2024 County Soil Judging Contest

​Our annual Soil Judging Contest took place on Friday, September 13th and it was a perfect day to be outdoors! High school students from Preble County traveled to the farm of our very own BJ Price to test their growing knowledge of soil types for urban and agricultural uses. Students judged three very different soil pits, which are deep enough to expose top soil, subsoil, and bedrock, in different parts of the field. At the fourth station, students took a multiple choice test for urban or agricultural purposes. Each group was focused and hard working, which allowed for a successful contest!

We would like to thank BJ Price for allowing the contest to take place on his farm and BJ Price for digging out the soil pits. A very special thank you to the staff, teachers, and students that made the commitment to compete in the contest. We can't wait for Soil Judging next year!

Ag Soils
Individual Scores

1. Luke Menke - Twin Valley South
2. Taylor Flora - Eaton HS
3. Laci Arvidson - Preble Shawnee
4. Joshua Osswald - Eaton HS
5. Grant Deaton - Eaton HS

Team Scores

1. Twin Valley South
2. National Trail
3. Tri County North
4. Preble Shawnee
5. Eaton

​Urban Soils
Individual Scores

1. Julianne Deaton - Eaton HS
2. Jenna Deaton - National Trail HS
3. Cooper Wilson - Eaton HS
4. Nave Day - TVS HS
5. Brooke Ballinger - Eaton HS

Team Scores

1. ​Eaton HS
2. National Trail
3. Twin Valley South
4. Preble Shawnee

2024 District Soil Judging Scores

Ag Soils (Teams):                                                                   Urban Soils (Teams):

1. National Trail - 3rd                                                    1. Eaton HS - 8th 
2. TCN - 5th                                                                    2. National Trail - 14th
3. TVS - 8th                                                                     3. Twin Valley South - 16th
4. Preble Shawnee - 26th                                            4. Preble Shawnee - 19th                                          
5. Eaton HS - 29th

2016 FFA Soil Judging

The FFA Soil Judging contest was held September 15 outside of Eaton at the home of SWCD employee BJ Price. Approximately 100 FFA members from Preble Shawnee, Tri County North, Eaton, Twin Valley South, and National Trail participated. In the urban contest, students evaluate soils for its ability to be developed with structures such as homes, septic systems, and roads. Eaton won this contest, National Trail came in second, and Twin Valley South placed third. The agricultural contest requires students to evaluate soil for its potential in crop farming, pastures, and conservation purposes. In this contest, the placings were Eaton first, Twin Valley South second, and National Trail third. Thanks to everyone who participated.