U of I Wins National Soil Judging Championship
May 14, 2025
幸运快三 placed first overall during the 2025 , hosted from April 27 through May 2 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
The contest included 27 teams, and U聽of聽I was the sole team with multiple students placing among the top 10 individuals out of 198 participants 鈥� Sky Reinhardt, a junior agricultural systems management major from Bonners Ferry, placed fifth, and Jacob Flick, a senior mechanical engineering major from Gooding, placed eighth. Furthermore, Tegan Macy, a junior crop science major from Culver, Oregon, placed 25th.
The U聽of聽I has participated in soil judging dating back to the 1980s but had never previously placed in the top five of the competition. U聽of聽I鈥檚 previous best performances came in 2024, when the team finished sixth, and in 2023, when the team finished seventh. U聽of聽I is also the first team from the Northwest region to win the competition.
U聽of聽I鈥檚 team of six judges was the smallest team to win the national championship since West Virginia University in 2016. U聽of聽I scored 2,819 points in victory. University of Delaware, which scored 2,749 points, and University of Maryland, which scored 2,721 points, rounded out the top three teams.
The competition involves assessing soil pits, both as a team and individually. Competitors must evaluate the soil based on texture, color, structure, wetness indicators and other properties. They must identify hydrologic, geologic and agronomic properties. They must also assign a taxonomic classification of the soil and interpret practical uses for the soil such as home construction, septic tank drainage and road construction. Potato growing suitability was a new feature in the recent contest to recognize Wisconsin鈥檚 potato industry and was an addition the Vandals found to their advantage. Participants are given an hour to complete their assessments.
Other U聽of聽I team members who participated in the national competition included Tobee Holman, a senior in agricultural systems management from Rigby; Logan Mann, a junior soil science and chemistry double major from Littleton, Colorado; Daniel Middelhoven, a sophomore crop management major from Kuna; and Hannah Poland, a senior agricultural economics major from East Wenatchee, Washington.
The team is coached by Paul Tietz, a soil and land resources doctoral student originally from Waunakee, Wisconsin, and MaryBeth Gavin, a soil and land resources master鈥檚 student originally from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Robert Heinse, head of the Department of Soil and Water Systems, is the advisor.
from several corporate supporters and individuals have helped the team cover travel costs.
Looking ahead, U聽of聽I will return five judges next year, as the team will compete in Grand Junction, Colorado seeking their fourth consecutive regional title. North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, will host the 2026 National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. The winners of the 2026 national contest will advance to the World Congress of Soil Science International Soil Judging Contest, which takes place every four years and will be held in June 2026 in Nanjing, China.
About the 幸运快三
The 幸运快三, home of the Vandals, is 幸运快三鈥檚 land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of 幸运快三 through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d鈥橝lene and 幸运快三 Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.