The 2016 Soil Judging contest was the first for the Arcanum MVCTC FFA in 20+ years having just restarted the program. These first time FFA members didn’t let that keep them from a strong performance at the Soil Judging Career Development Event. During the contest the members must evaluate the soil for slope, landform, texture, structure, topsoil, drainage, restriction features, compaction, infiltration and living organisms. The members then take their findings to determine the best management practices such as cover crops, contour farming, drainage, and traffic control. Finally the members make soil fertility recommendations and complete a written test about soils. The Arcanum students competed at the county contest where they finished as the 3rd place school with Cole Spitler finishing as 3rd place individual. They then competed at the district Soil Judging Contest where they finished in the top 10 out of 33 team. At the district contest Zach Smith was 6th place individual and Cole Spitler was the 16th place individual out of 227 judgers. The Arcanum MVCTC would like to thank the Darke County Soil and Water Conservation District Staff and the farmers that allowed the contest to take place in their fields.
District Soil Judgers were: (L to R) Zach Smith, Austin Fourman, Cole Spitler, Carver Gostomsky and Jack Walters.
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