Texas Tech’s Soil Judging Team has secured a spot at the national championship after placing third overall at the 2025 Collegiate Region IV Soil Judging Contest, held Oct. 6–10 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
The Red Raiders distinguished themselves in a field of six universities, capturing first place in the team-judged pit competition, a highlight of the regional event that tests students’ ability to analyze and classify soils under field conditions.
“Texas Tech students worked as a phenomenal team to leverage each of their strengths to describe the soil and landscape, estimate soil hydraulic properties, classify the soil, and make interpretations for runoff/erosion potential and suitability for basements, roads and septic systems.” said Daniel Hirmas, the group’s coach and B.L. Allen Endowed Chair of Pedology in Texas Tech’s Department of Plant & Soil Science, part of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.
“The result of them working together was to place first in the contest for the team-judged pit,” he said.
In the overall competition, Texas Tech finished behind only Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University, ranking ahead of Texas A&M University–Kingsville, West Texas A&M University, and Stephen F. Austin State University.
Among the top 10 individual competitors, Elisa Paul, a junior plant and soil science major from Keller, Texas, placed eighth, while Reegan Brister, a sophomore fundamental engineering major from Hico, Texas, finished ninth. In total, 49 undergraduate students competed in the regional event.
Other team members included Faith Almond, a sophomore animal science major from Flower Mound, Texas; Syd Beebe, a junior double major in plant and soil science and accounting from Trophy Club, Texas; Madison McGinnis, a senior natural resource management major from Deming, New Mexico; and Jake Todd, a senior plant and soil science major from Fort Worth, Texas.
Soil judging competitions challenge students to assess the morphology, geomorphology, and landscape characteristics of soil profiles. Their analyses are scored against those of professional soil scientists, offering hands-on experience that builds skills valuable in soil conservation, agronomy, agricultural education, and environmental consulting.
The team’s next challenge will come next spring, when they travel to North Carolina State University in Raleigh to compete at the national championship.
Hirmas, who joined Texas Tech in January 2023, brings national recognition to the program. His research applies advanced imaging technologies - including visible–near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and micro–X-ray fluorescence - to map the chemical and mineralogical composition of soils at fine spatial scales.
CONTACT: Krishna Jagadish, Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-7953 or kjagadish.sv@ttu.edu
1015NM25