The East Knox FFA Agricultural Soils Career Development Event team placed ninth out of 164 teams from across Ohio in a state event held virtually on Oct. 20.
Video clips and pictures were utilized in place of onsite participation in soils pits to complete the competition.
The team members were Joci Totten, Andrew Poff, Kendra Hayes and Allan Dolby. Totten finished as the 28th highest individual in the state, with Poff finishing 47th, Hayes placing 62nd and Dolby at 428th out of 1,096 competitors. The Top 3 scorers from each school make up the team total.
Before the state competition, East Knox competed in the District 7 invitational held in Knox County at the Bill Lawhon Farm, where they placed fourth and the county contest conducted at the Fowler Farm in Amity, where they placed third. Individually in the county event, Joci Totten placed second.
In the agricultural land evaluation event members determine soil slope, landform, surface soil texture, subsoil texture, structure in the topsoil, depth of topsoil, drainage class, depth to restrictive features, compaction, infiltration and number of living organisms in the soil. This information is used to make recommendations for soil degradation based on soil erosion, soil compaction, water quality, and overall soil health. Best management practices are selected for each of these soil degradation problems. A soil fertility portion of the competition is also completed. Teams also take a written test over soils and find soil information from the web soil survey.
The team will receive a plaque for pacing in the top ten in the state.
East Knox FFA has had a soil team in the Top 10 in the state 35 out of the past 38 years.
