Nebraska Land Judging & Soil Evaluation
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.
Soil is one of the most important natural resources of our environment. Soil supports and influences the crops we grow for food and fiber, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The soils of the world fit for plant growth must sustain all the plants, animals and humans that make the Earth their home. The soil acts as a filter for the water entering the groundwater supply, as well as interacting with or being eroded by the water that flows over the surface. Soil has a direct effect on the air we breathe when it becomes airborne and is evident when dust settles or obscures vision. Soil takes long periods of time to develop but can be destroyed or eroded away in very short periods. It is only through proper stewardship of soil that life on Earth can be sustained and improved.
- Civil Eats reports, "A National Soil-Judging Contest Prepares College Students to Steward the Land. With soil knives, scorecards, and endless enthusiasm, college students from across the country compete for the Stanley Cup of soils—and learn how to protect an increasingly threatened resource."
- Soils Champs! UNL Soil Judging Team wins 2025 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Judging Conference.
- Learn how the University of Nebraska–Lincoln propelled Husker Kennadi Griffis (Lincoln, NE) to an international championship in soil judging as a member of Team USA.
- Meet a Husker: Mason Rutgers, an agronomy student from Lynden, Washington, and member of the UNL Soil Judging Team.
INFORMATION AND USEFUL TOOLS:
Land Judging Guide Book - Fundamentals of Land Evaluation in Nebraska (updated 1.4.24)
Guide for Applying Conservation Treatments for Land Evaluation (updated 10.19.23)
Setting Up and Holding a Land Evaluation Contest (updated 1.4.24)
Fact Sheet for Each Field Instructor (updated 10.1.24)
South Central and South West Capability Chart
- View a lesson on using the SC/SW capability chart (Credit: Stephanie Miller, Heartland FFA)
South East, East Central, North East, North Central Capability Chart
SCORECARD EXAMPLE:
Reference Card (Students will keep as a record after contest)
How to Fill Out a Land Judging Score Card Video
Example of How the Score Card is Weighted
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
State Land Judging Rules and Regulations (updated 1.3.24)
LAND JUDGING COMPETITION:
2025 Regional and State Land Judging Competition Dates, Locations and Contacts
State Land Judging Competition
Oct. 22, 2025
Lower Platte North NRD
East Central Region
2024 Regional Land Judging Results:
- 2024 East Central Land Judging Scores (Team)
- 2024 East Central Land Judging Scores (Individual)
- 2024 North East Land Judging Scores (Team)
- 2024 North East Land Judging Scores (Individual)
2024 State Land Judging Scores:
STATE TEAM SCORES
STATE INDIVIDUAL SCORES
STATE ADULT SCORES
- First Place: Alma
- Second Place: Elmwood-Murdock
- Third Place: North Bend
- Fourth Place: Falls City
- Fifth Place: Norfolk
Regional Map Updated 12.29.22.
For more information contact Megan Grimes at mgrimes [at] nrdnet.org or 402-471-7670