Purdue News

August 30, 2002 Soil contest to attract hundreds of Hoosier school students WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Junior and senior high school students from across Indiana will compete in the 31st annual Purdue University Soils Judging Invitational from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Purdue Horticulture Farm on Sharon Chapel Road in West Lafayette. Nearly 450 students in 4-H and FFA programs across the state will compete in teams of three or four people judging soil in four different holes. The students will determine the soil properties and make judgements about the suitability of the soils. Some of the factors determining soil suitability include whether the soils are appropriate for growing certain crops, whether the land is poorly drained and whether it would be suitable for a homesite. The students also will measure the slope of the ground and determine any surface erosion. The top three teams receive a trophy. The Purdue Soils Judging Invitational is a kickoff to different soils contests around the state and prepares students for local and regional competitions. The event is sponsored by the Purdue Agronomy Club and the Purdue chapter of the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators. CONTACTS: Crystal Schuck, IAAE-Purdue, (765) 743-1867, cschuck@purdue.edu; Dan Gottschalk, IAAE-Purdue adviser, (765) 494-7290, dgott@purdue.edu; Sherry Fulk-Bringman, Agronomy Club adviser, (765) 494-8627, sherryfb@purdue.edu. Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/ Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page