Nebraska Land Judging & Soil Evaluation
Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Land Judging enables 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. Soil, land and home-site evaluation provide a setting for students to investigate the soils in their region, the environment that surrounds them and their effect on their daily lives.
Teachers: Information & Useful Tools
- Changes for 2026
- Land Judging Guide Book: Fundamentals of Land Evaluation in Nebraska (updated 1.4.24)
- Guide for Applying Conservation Treatment for Land Evaluation (updated 1.7.26)
- Capability Chart - South Central & South West
- Capability Chart - South East, East Central, North East, North Central
- Capability Chart - West
- Video: How to Use the SC/SW Capability Chart (Instructor: Stephanie Miller, Heartland FFA)
Score Card Example
- Official ScanTron Score Card
- Reference Card (students keep as a record after the contest)
- Video: How to Fill Out the Land Judging Score Card
- Example of How the Score Card is Weighted
- Videos: Land Judging Training for Slope, Texture, Depth (Instructor: Monty Larsen)
NRD Host: Information
- Setting up and Holding a Land Evaluation Contest
- Fact Sheet for Each Field Instructor (updated 1.7.26)
- Field Information Card
- Capability Charts - download from Teachers section
Contest Information
- 2026 Regional Competition Dates
- 2026 State Contest: Oct. 14, 2026 hosted by Lower Big Blue NRD (South East Region)
- Nebraska Land Judging Rules and Regulations (updated 1.7.26)
2026 Regional Scores
- East Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
- East Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- North Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
- North Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- North East AM Land Judging Scores (Team)
- North East AM Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- North East PM Land Judging Scores (Team)
- North East PM Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- South West Land Judging Scores (Team)
- South West Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- South Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
- South Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- South East Land Judging Scores (Team)
- South East Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- West Land Judging Scores (Team)
- West Land Judging Scores (Individuals)
2026 State Scores
- Team Scores
- First:
- Second:
- Third:
- Fourth:
- Fifth:
- Individual Scores
- Adult Scores
Land Judging Regional Map Updated 12.29.22