By Remi Lessenger and Haley Wakeland, Louisa-Muscatine FFA Reporters
The Louisa-Muscatine FFA soil judging team placed first overall at the South Sub-Districts soils evaluation contest held in Louisa County on Sept. 22. Individually, Kendal Pugh placed first overall, Bryar Runnells was second, Rylee Cole was fourth, Cari Crumly was fifth, Bailey Runnells was seventh, Thomas Hathaway was ninth, Logan Hafner was 12th, and Talin Brewer was 15th overall out of 93 students competing in the contest.
The team then moved onto the Southeast District FFA soils evaluation contest, where they were also named the champion team – first out of 32 teams. This contest was held in Muscatine on Thursday, Sept. 28. Rylee Cole placed first as the overall top individual out of 176 students! Kendal Pugh was third, Bryar Runnells was fifth, Talin Brewer was 14th, Thomas Hathaway was 29th, Cari Crumly was 30th, Logan Hafner was 31st, and Bailey Runnells was 66th overall out of 176 students. They all did an outstanding job! The top four individuals will represent L-M FFA at the Iowa FFA State Soil Judging CDE held at Iowa State on Oct. 15. In the contests, students had to identify soil landscape positions, slope, horizons, textures, structures, and colors. Based on the characteristics of the soil they made recommendations on how to manage the soil for agriculture and building purposes.
