Polk County High School FFA teams are again among the state’s best in land judging competition.
The PCHS FFA Junior Land Judging team recently competed in The 68th Annual North Carolina FFA Association Land Judging Career Development Event, held at Louisburg High School in Franklin County. Polk’s Junior Land Judging Team was named the NCFFA Western Regional Champions and state runner-up while the Senior Land Judging Team also earned the title of NCFFA Western Regional Champions and placed third in the state, making them eligible for the National Land Judging Competition, to be held in May in Oklahoma City, Okla.
It marks the fifth consecutive year that a Polk FFA team has earned a trip to Oklahoma (no competitions were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the global coronavirus pandemic).
More than 40 teams took part in the state competition.
Students on the junior team include Natalie Serrano, Kynley Lawter, Kinsley Wilson, Laney Littlefield and RJ Ruff. Senior team members include Miguel Vasquez, Banks Barber, Dakota Searcy and Davis Young.
“Banks and Davis were the only two on the senior team that had previous land judging experience,” said Chauncey Barber, PCHS agricultural teacher and FFA advisor. “Super proud of Miguel and Dakota for buckling down and helping us reach our goal, which is to go to nationals.
“The boys know we have more work to do and we need to finish better at nationals than we have the last couple times.”
This event encourages students in grades 7-12 to analyze land characteristics such as soil type, erosion and drainage to determine the best possible use. Knowledge about soils can be organized and applied in managing farms, fields and woodlands, developing communities as well as engineering work. Students are able to comprehend why soils respond differently to management practices and how soil properties affect crop growth and urban uses as well as environmental concerns.
This event is one of 43 different career development events offered to North Carolina FFA members on the state level. The Soil Science Society of North Carolina sponsors this event.
If you are interested in helping sponsor the Polk County High School FFA Land Judging Team’s trip to Oklahoma, please contact Chauncey Barber at (828) 894-2525 or cbarber@polkschools.org. All donations are tax deductible.
