By Jamie Martin
The University of Idaho claimed first place overall at the 2025 National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest, held April 27 through May 2 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Competing against 26 other universities, U of I stood out as the only team with multiple individuals finishing in the top 10 out of 198 participants.
Sky Reinhardt, a junior majoring in agricultural systems management from Bonners Ferry, placed fifth. Jacob Flick, a senior mechanical engineering student from Gooding, secured eighth place. Additionally, Tegan Macy, a junior crop science major from Culver, Oregon, earned 25th place.
Although the university has participated in soil judging since the 1980s, this marks the first time U of I has finished in the top five nationally. Their previous highest rankings were sixth in 2024 and seventh in 2023. This win also makes them the first team from the Northwest region to take the national title.
Their final team score of 2,819 edged out the University of Delaware (2,749) and the University of Maryland (2,721), placing U of I firmly at the top. Notably, this is the smallest team to win since West Virginia University in 2016.
The contest challenged students to analyze soil pits both individually and as a group. Judging criteria included evaluating texture, structure, color, wetness, and other soil characteristics. Teams were required to classify soil taxonomically and assess its hydrologic, geologic, and agronomic properties. They also had to determine land-use suitability, such as for housing, septic systems, and roads.
A new element in the 2025 competition asked students to evaluate soil suitability for potato cultivation an area in which U of I excelled, especially given Wisconsin’s potato-growing heritage.
Additional team members included Tobee Holman, Logan Mann, Daniel Middelhoven, and Hannah Poland. Coaching duties were handled by doctoral student Paul Tietz and master’s student MaryBeth Gavin, with faculty advisor Robert Heinse overseeing the program.
The team’s travel was funded in part by donations from individual and corporate supporters. Looking ahead, U of I aims to win a fourth straight regional title in 2026, with five team members returning.
The next national contest will be hosted by North Carolina State University, with top teams advancing to the international competition in Nanjing, China.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-casarsaguru
Categories: National