Written by: Hunter Lackey, 2026-2027 Racine Southern FFA Historian
Each year our Southern FFA chapter participates in local rural and urban soil judging CDE contests. Urban soils identify hazards like high water tables or shifting clay to determine if the land can properly support house foundations, lawns, roads, and septic systems. Rural soils analyzes physical soil properties like texture, depth, and land slope to determine the land's capability class and recommend farming practices to maximize crop yield while preventing erosion.
For our local competition-hosted by the Meigs and Athens Co. Soil and Water Offices, our Urban team placed 4th overall our participants where Caleb Delong, Garret Beasley, Tyson Hupp, Nina Blackhurst, and Tanner Harmon and our rural team placed 2nd overall and participants were Marcy Evans, John Turley, Jaydyn Harmon, Breelyn Sayre, and Christian Stobart. The contest was held at the Rutland Conservation area with chapters from Athens and Meigs county participating.
For our District 10 competition-held in Wellston, our urban team placed 8th overall and participants: Caleb Delong, Garret Beasley, Tyson Hupp, Nina Blackhurst, and Tanner Harmon and our rural team placed 8th overall and participates where Marcy Evans, John Turley, Jaydyn Harmon, Breelyn Sayre, and Christian Stobart.
Overall, the Southern FFA soil judging teams did a fantastic job representing their chapter at both contests this year. Whether they were looking at soil for building houses or checking land for farming, every student worked hard and learned important skills. Congratulations to Caleb Delong, Garret Beasley, Tyson Hupp, Nina Blackhurst, and Tanner Harmon on the urban team, and Marcy Evans, John Turley, Jaydyn Harmon, Breelyn Sayre, and Christian Stobart.
