AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University Soil Judging Team had three top 10 winners in the American Society of Agronomy Regional Soil Judging Competition, hosted by the University of Nebraska near Lincoln.
First place overall in the individual competition was Matt Levan, a junior in agronomy from St. Ansgar, Iowa. Other top 10 winners from Iowa State were Justin Chapman, a senior in agricultural and life sciences education from Williamsburg, Iowa, and Josh McDanel, a senior in agronomy and environmental science from Oskaloosa, Iowa; placing fourth and ninth respectively.
The competition was held in late October. Six teams from around the Midwest competed in both individual and group judging contests. The teams evaluated soil pits for a variety of basic properties including texture, structure, color, as well as classification and suitability for particular uses.
Other team members included:
- Danny Brummel, an agronomy junior from Springfield, Illinois;
- Casey Campbell, an agronomy sophomore from Franklin, Indiana;
- Jordan Cooper, an agronomy junior from Conrad, Iowa;
- Hannah Corey, an agronomy sophomore from Lake City, Iowa;
- Brendan Juarez, a junior in Agronomy from Glenwood, Iowa;
- Danielle Pauli, an agronomy junior from Carroll, Iowa; and
- Brandon Walls, an agronomy and environmental science junior from Dyersville, Iowa.
The team is coached by Amber Anderson, lecturer in agronomy from Aurelia, Iowa, and Tyler Groh, doctorate student from Jackson, Wisconsin.
