Images and Text Courtesy of Dr. David WeindorfThe Texas Tech Soils Judging Team took second place in the Region IV Collegiate Soils
Contest hosted by Oklahoma State University October 22-26 in Stillwater, OK.
Six teams competed: Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Tarleton State, University of Arkansas,
Texas A&M University Kingsville, and an international team coached by USDA-NRCS staff.
The Texas Tech team practiced for several weeks prior to the contest, evaluating soil
texture, structure, color, interpretations, and soil taxonomic classification. During
contest week, the team traveled to Stillwater and evaluated 10 practice soil pits
ahead of the contest. The contest itself consists of individual competition (each
student evaluates soil profiles independently), and team competition (the entire team
describes a soil and can openly collaborate to arrive at decisions).
Based on overall performance, the top three teams advance to national competition
which will be hosted in Spring, 2019 by California Polytechnic State University in
San Luis Obispo.
Since 1960, Texas Tech University has won the national collegiate soils judging contest
4 times, placing second 3 times. In regional competition, TTU has won the contest
21 times, second place 13 times, and third place 9 times.
Previous coaches of the TTU Soils Judging Team include Profs. B.L. Allen and Wayne
Hudnall. A former student of B.L. Allen and competitor of on the TTU Soils Judging
team (1992-1995), Prof. David C. Weindorf coaches the team today.
Assistant coaches for this contest were: Autumn Acree, Meagan Riley, and Fujun Sun.
Contestants were:
• Bryanna Edwards (2nd place individual)
• Mariah Mesa (3rd place individual)
• Sarah Pennington (4th place individual)
• Hayden Crawford (12th place individual)
• Rebekah Ortiz (19th placed individual)
A total of 28 students competed in the regional contest this year.
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