Digging deep with the Soil Judging Team
May 8, 2025
The University of Minnesota’s Soil Judging Team is a student organization housed within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) that offers hands-on learning in soil science, land evaluation, and environmental fieldwork. Students on the team practice describing, classifying, and interpreting soils in real-world settings, often working directly in soil pits to evaluate properties like texture, structure, and drainage.
Soil judging is a competitive, field-based activity in which students evaluate soil profiles and landscapes to interpret land use potential. A national contest brings together top collegiate teams from across the country and challenges students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
This month, the team competed at the 2025 National Collegiate Soils Contest in Stevens Point, WI, earning the second-best national finish in program history. After two days of competition, the team placed 6th overall and 8th in group judging, demonstrating impressive growth, preparation, and teamwork throughout the season. See blog posts about their time at nationals.
Congratulations to graduating seniors Finn Porter, Jenna Christenson, Anna Windels, and team captain Amital Shaver, whose leadership played a key role in the team’s success. The group also thanks coaches Nic Jelinski, Bailey Tangen, and Nate Lund for their support, and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch for hosting an excellent contest experience.
Watch the team in action: Soil Judging at UMN – YouTube
Read more from the students: UMN Soil Judging Team Blog
Students on the Soil Judging Team come from a variety of CFANS majors that focus on environmental and agricultural systems, including:
Related minors:
If you're interested in soil science, environmental fieldwork, or land management, CFANS offers hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for meaningful careers in science, conservation, and sustainability.
