The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) along with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) partnered to host the 2022 Western Regional Land Judging Contest held on October 12th near Chadron, Nebraska. Land judging contests challenge students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation and enable each participant to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. A total of seven area contests are held each fall across the state of Nebraska. Participants have to qualify from a regional contest to compete at the State Contest.
The Western Regional Land Judging contest hosted a total of 80 participants from seven schools across the Panhandle of Nebraska.
Team scores were as follows:
1st- Bayard FFA- (Cambree, Schmaltz, Riley Hopkins, Taylor Petersen, Nolan Dueker)
2nd- Banner County FFA- (Adam Knaub, Wyatt Reichenberg, Nathan Clement, Micah Dittbenner)
3rd- Bayard FFA- (Kierra Miller, Amy Albro, Matt Applegate, Shelvie McKibbin)
4th- Bayard FFA- (Nate Barker, Emily Bennett, Leah Nesbitt, Dugan Pafford)
Individual scores were as follows:
1st- Cambree Schmaltz (Bayard FFA)
2nd- Riley Hopkins (Bayard FFA)
3rd- Adam Knaub (Banner County FFA)
4th- Taylor Petersen (Bayard FFA)
5th- Sunshine Vang (Scottsbluff)
6th- Wyatt Reichenberg (Banner County FFA)
7th- Nathan Clement (Banner County FFA)
Tricia Goes, Conservation Programs Specialist of UNWNRD, stated “It is such an inspiration seeing the students interested in agricultural events, such as Land Judging. A huge appreciation goes out to the teachers and schools for allowing their students to participate in such events. Even with colder temperatures, students enjoyed the day and gained knowledge on soil types.”