Alabama State Land Judging Event - March 13, 2006

Shelby County NRCS/SWCD hosted the state land judging contest this year. NRCS helps conduct the regional and state contests. NRCS District Conservationist Thomas McDaniel and the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District did an excellent job of setting up the contest site. 

Twelve teams participated--four teams from each of the three regions in the state.  The FFA Association contributes $2,500 for the 1st place team to go to the National contest on May 2-4, 2006, in Oklahoma City.

The 2006 state contest winners were:

Horseshoe Bend High School, Tallapoosa County - 1st Charles Henderson High School, Pike County - 2nd Douglas High School, Marshall County - 3rd Falkville High School, Morgan County - 4th

First Place  Horseshoe Bend High School, Tallapoosa County

A special award, in honor of Jerry Johnson, was given to the student who scored highest on the forestry segment of the contest. That award went to Brantley Park from Charles Henderson High School in Pike County.

Land judging is a part of the state FFA program.  In land judging, students are tested on their knowledge of soil types, topography, proper land use practices, and related topics.

Troy Newton, State FFA Coordinator, said, “The teams were well prepared. There are so many ways for the teams to tap into the expertise available to them at the local level. The State Soil and Water Conservation Districts sponsor the contest at the state level. We appreciate the work involved in preparing these students for the contest and the continued support of the sponsors.”

Students learn to use all of these factors to classify land. Land capability classes tell us how intensively we can use land without damaging it, how to protect it from erosion, prevent loss of plant nutrients and improve crop production. Finally, in land judging, students learn some of the conservation practices needed to maintain or improve lands.

A land judging team is made up of three or four members. The total of the top three scores made by the individual members of the team is the team score. All team members are eligible for individual and team prizes.

Special thanks to the groups and individuals supporting and sponsoring the 2006 state Land Judging contest.

Tim Albritton, NRCS state staff forester (l), presented Brantley Park (Henderson High School), the Jerry L. Johnson Award for the highest score in forestry.  This award is given annually by NRCS friends of Jerry Johnson in honor and appreciation of his many years of service to the land judging program.
	Second Place Charles Henderson High School Pike County

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