About this Project
The University of Delaware Soil Judging Team won first place overall in 2023 in the Northeast Soil Judging Regional Competition against eight other universities and a total of thirteen teams.
This October, we traveled to the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island for the 2024 Regionals to try and defend our title. Our UD team came in third place out of 11 participating schools, which qualifies us for the national competition at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, WI next spring. On the individual level, one of our UD students finished in a 3-way tie for first place and another tied for 5th out of 76 competitors.
Soil judging is an undergraduate collegiate activity affiliated with the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). It involves learning the field application skills of soil science: soil morphology, genesis, classification and interpretation. Soil science is a diverse field with approximately six sub-disciplines (different, however, interconnected):
- soil chemistry and mineralogy
- soil physics
- soil biology and ecology
- soil fertility and nutrient management (agronomy)
- soil and land use management
- soil morphology, genesis and classification
We are looking ahead to our next competition. We are asking for donations to help with the travel costs of the 2024-2025 competition season. Please help us keep this program alive and thriving so that future students will have a chance to compete for titles and bring home wins for UD. Every little bit helps!
Donor Impact: How your support makes a difference!
Your donation helps cover travel expenses for going to and participating in competitions. It is important to raise funds so that the students can participate without having to worry about the financial burden associated with travel. Thanks to your support, our soil science superstars will have the chance to dig up more wins for UD!
Gifts made to this project are designated to the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. The Department will direct funds to support the Soil Judging team.
