FFA Competed at National Land Judging
Launch the media gallery 1 playerHeartland FFA had the opportunity to attend the National Land & Range Judging competition after qualifying in October.
The last time Heartland competed in National Land Judging was in 2022.
Team members Lane Farrall, Faith Hiebner, Maddie Janzen, and Riley Quiring traveled to El Reno, Oklahoma, for the event. While all 50 states are eligible to compete, there were 35 states represented at this year’s competition.
Members visited with Natural Resources Conservation employees to learn more about the practices of conserving the soil. While practicing before the competition, members also conversed with Natural Resource Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt.
The national land judging competition consists of two parts, but it is very similar to Nebraska’s version of the contest. Participants must identify the surface and subsurface textures based on feel. This will determine the permeability of the soil. Using no extra tools, they have to decide on the depth of soil and slope. The slope of the land will help determine the amount of surface runoff. Finally, a little bit of math is involved to figure erosion.
In Oklahoma, all land is considered Class 1. This is the best farm ground available. However, some of the factors that contestants figure will pull the land from a Class 1 land down to anywhere from a Class 2-8. Classes 1-4 are used for row crops, while Classes 5-8 are used for rangeland and wildlife. Once a class is selected, contestants will prescribe treatments for the land to assure conservation of the soil.
This year’s team placed 30th out of 102 teams. There were 398 FFA members from across the country competing. The Heartland FFA members all placed in the top half of competitors.
Placings for Heartland members were:
Riley Quiring - 69th
Maddie Janzen - 110th
Lane Farrall - 165th
Faith Hiebner - 187th