WT Soil Judging Team Heading to Nationals for Third Year

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s Soil Judging team recently qualified for nationals for a third consecutive year.

The team placed third overall in the Region IV Soil Judging Competition, with four students ranking in the individual Top 15. The WT team also placed second in team pit contest, where the team works together to characterize a soil pit.

“This is a motivated team comprised of veterans who have worked hard over the past few years to fine-tune their skills and new participants who are eager to learn,” said Dr. Lauren Selh, coach and instructor of plant, soil and environmental sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. “The work that they put in this semester paid off in the contest. I could not be prouder to work with this team of students.”

The team will compete in nationals in April in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

At the regional competition, the WT team ranked ahead of teams from Texas Tech University, Texas A&M–Kingsville and Oklahoma State University. The top two spots were claimed by Texas A&M University and the University of Arkansas.

Soil judging is a competitive activity through which students develop skills relevant to careers in soil conservation, soil science, agronomy, agricultural education and more. During a contest, students describe basic soil morphology, geomorphology and landscape characteristics. Their characterizations are then scored relative to those generated by soil science professionals in the contest region.

Individual team members who ranked in the Top 15 were Riley Siders, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Lubbock, who ranked fifth overall; Dayson Schacher, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Nazareth, who ranked sixth; Kassidy Langley, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Hico, who ranked 13th; and Paige Richardson, a junior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Booker, who ranked 14th.

Team members also include Cristian Camacho, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Booker; Ryon Howell, a sophomore plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Elida, New Mexico; Aspen Hughes, a senior animal science major from Carlsbad, New Mexico; Bela Juarez, a junior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Plainview; Mia Key, a junior agriculture education major from Mansfield; Landen Langenbau, a junior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Arp; Christian Lockhart, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Memphis; and Abigail Watson, a senior plant, soil and environmental sciences major from Fritch.

The contest was held Oct. 13 to 18 at Texas A&M University.

Developing excellent educational opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, is a key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Soil Judging team advance to nationals following a third-place win at the Region IV Soil Judging Competition at Texas A&M University. Pictured are, front from left, Paige Richardson, Bela Juarez, Cristian Camacho, Christian Lockhart, Mia Key, Aspen Hughes and Abigail Watson; and, back from left, Ryon Howell, Dayson Schacher, Riley Siders, Landon Langenbau, Kassidy Langley and Dr. Lauren Selph, coach.

—WT—