News from SENR

Collegiate Soil Judging

On October 16 and 17, Ohio State was host to the North East Regional Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. More than 50 students from the University of Maryland, University of Rhode Island, Penn State, Delaware Valley College, University of Maine, Wilmington College and Ohio State participated. During Soil Judging contests, students describe, and classify soil profiles from soil pits, and determine their limitations for a variety of land uses.
Intercollegiate competitions have been held for almost 50 years. Brian Slater organized this year's contest. Danielle Balduff, a soil scientist and wetland team leader with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, coached the OSU team. Danielle is an alumnus of SENR and was a successful soil judger when she was on the OSU Soil Judging Team.
	The teams had several days to develop and practice their skills on soil pits at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in Madison County and at other locations, before the contest. There was a special banquet for the students sponsored by the Association of Ohio Pedologists (professional soil scientists), and an awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon to recognize the best teams and individuals. The Nationals will be at Texas Tech University in  Lubbock, Texas, next spring. Maryland, RI and Wilmington will represent NE.