State bound: Bridgeport team places third, Leyton sends two individuals
High school students across the state are getting their hands dirty in the name of science and conservation through the annual Land Judging competition, held each October in partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event, hosted in seven statewide regions, challenges students to evaluate real-world soil conditions and recommend land management practices that promote long-term agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship.
During the competition, students visit a site with four exposed soil pits and use official evaluation cards to judge key soil features such as texture, permeability, depth, slope, surface thickness, and erosion. They then determine the land’s capability for crop production and select appropriate conservation treatments from a provided list.These handson assessments teach students how to interpret soil structure, classify land, and identify best practices for conserving both soil and water. Individual and team scores are tallied to recognize top performers in soil science and land evaluation.
