The Penn State Soil Judging Team finished second in the Group Judging category and tied for 10th place overall in the 2026 National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest at North Carolina State University on March 22-27.
More than 120 students from 28 universities across the United States gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the premier hands-on competition designed to prepare the next generation of agronomists, soil scientists, environmental consultants, and turfgrass and land management professionals. The annual contest brings together undergraduate teams to evaluate soils in the field, applying scientific principles to real-world challenges in agriculture, environmental management and land-use planning.
"Soil judging provides students with critical, hands-on experience that connects classroom learning to practical decision-making," said Penn State team coach Patrick Drohan, professor of pedology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "The contest emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving and technical communication - skills essential for careers in soil science and related fields."
Participants analyze soil properties such as texture, structure, color and drainage, and interpret how these characteristics influence land capability and sustainability. The week-long event featured field-based judging exercises, educational activities and networking opportunities with professionals from academia, government agencies and industry.
