National Collegiate Soils Contest | Science Societies
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National Collegiate Soils Contest

National Soil Contest 2026

Thank you for joining us!

  • The 2026 National Collegiate Soils Contest took place March 22–27 near Raleigh, NC. Sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy, it was the largest national soil judging contest ever conducted with 338 participants and more than 30 volunteers from USDA-NRCS and the Soil Science Society of North Carolina on site to teach students about soils of the southeastern region of the United States.
  • Read full coverage of this event in CSA News

 

The Virginia Tech Hokies placed first overall in the event followed by University of Missouri, University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin–Platteville, University of Idaho, Purdue University, University of Kentucky, University of Georgia, West Virginia University, and Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo. 
 

2026 national champions from Virginia Tech. Left to right (front): Sarah Michael, Bailey Brethren, Holden Mrizek, Sinclair Anderson, C.J. Rufe, Lee Alcorn, Rachel Parmele, Cara Zhang, and Assistant Coach Will Hernandez. Left to right (back): Joey Johnson, Steven Conder, Coach John Galbraith, Andy Beattie, Campbell Fox, asst. contest host Jacob Cheers, and contest host Matt Ricker.

 

2025 National Collegiate Soils Contest

  • Hosted by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | April 27 - May 2 | Stevens Point, WI 

Thank you to Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch, the UWSP Soil Judging Team, and Region 3 for hosting the 2025 event.

Congratulations to the 2025 National Collegiate Soils Contest Champions, the University of Idaho! The win is not only their first in school history, but the first ever for a team from Region 7. Congrats Idaho Vandals!

The top five overall teams:

  1. University of Idaho
  2. University of Delaware
  3. University of Maryland
  4. North Carolina State University
  5. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

The top five group judging teams:

  1. University of Delaware
  2. University of Idaho
  3. University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  4. North Carolina State University
  5. Purdue University

The top five individual judgers:

  1. JosiLee Scott, West Virginia University
  2. Bethany Knutsen, University of Delaware
  3. Emmeline Seest, Purdue University
  4. Kai O'Connell, Iowa State University
  5. Sky Reinhardt, University of Idaho
     

Full results

2024 National Collegiate Soils contest winners
The University of Idaho Soil Judging Team with the Bidwell-Reisig Trophy. From left: Hannah Poland, Daniel Middelhoven, Tegan Macy, Sky Reinhardt, Coach Paul Tietz, Logan Mann, Jacob Flick, Coach MaryBeth Gavin.

2024 National Collegiate Soils Contest

Iowa State University | April 21-26 | Ames, IA

  • Thank you to Dr. Amber Anderson, Dr. Lee Burras, and the Iowa State University, Department of Agronomy for hosting the 2024 National Collegiate Soils Contest
  • Congratulations to the 2024 National Collegiate Soils Champions, the Virginia Tech Hokies Soil Judging Team

In succession, the 1st place winners were followed up by: 

  •     University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  •  University of Wisconsin-Platteville
  •  Purdue University
  •  North Carolina State University

Congratulations to University of Illinois, for achieving 1st place within the Group Judging event

In succession, our winners are followed by:

  •     University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  •  University of Maryland

Tied for 4th Place:

  •     University of Idaho
  •  University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  •  Penn State University
  •  University of Arkansas

Last, but certainly not least: Congrats to the 2024 Individual Champions 

  • 1st Place: Elizabeth (Liz) Eroshenko, Virginia Tech
  • 2nd Place: Matthew Smith, Virginia Tech
  • 3rd Place: Mason Rutgers, University of Nebraska
  • 4th Place: Jackson Christenson, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
  • 5th Place: Tegan Macy, University of Idaho

 

2024soilchamps
From left of trophy: Danielle Davies, Will Ubben, Grace Bartlett, Carmen Curry, Matt Smith (2nd Place Individual), Delia Alcorn (front), Liz Eroshenko (1st Place Individual). Joe Paterson (holding trophy). Left to right, right of trophy: Sam Herrin, Rachel Parmele, Coach John Galbraith, Clara Betts, and Sinclair Anderson. Not pictured: Gracie Litsinger, and Assnt Coach Claire Tallamy.  

2023 National Contest

Oklahoma State University | March 26-31 | Columbus, OH

Thank you to Jason Warren and the Oklahoma State Soils Judging Team for hosting the 2023 National Collegiate Soils Contest!

Congrats to our 2023 National champions, Maryland University!

maryland team

Full Results

National Collegiate Soils Contest Rules

National Collegiate Soils Contest Committee and Guidelines

2022 International Soils Contest

Glasgow, Scotland | July 2022

Congratulations to our USA Soil Judging Team for placing first in the Team Soil Judging Competition and Clare Tallamy who won 1st place in the individual competition!

glasgow-team
 

Soil Judging Regions

Region 1: Connecticut , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey Rhode Island ,Maryland, New York, Vermont

Region 2: Alabama North Carolina Tennessee , Florida, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky

Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin

Region 4: Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma

Region 5: Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota

Region 6: Alaska, California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico

Region 7: Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana

  • Region 1: hosted by University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | winner: University of Maryland
  • Region 2: hosted by North Carolina State University | winner: Virginia Tech
  • Region 3: hosted by Michigan State University. | winner: Purdue
  • Region 4: hosted by University of Arkansas | winner: Oklahoma State
  • Region 5: hosted by University of Nebraska at Omaha | winner: South Dakota State
  • Region 6: hosted by Chico State | winner: Fresno State
  • Region 7: hosted by Colorado State University | winner: University of Idaho

2026 World Congress of Soil Science

  • June 7 - 12, 2026 |  Nanjing, China

National Collegiate Soil Champions:

2026: Virginia Tech

2025: University of Idaho

2024: Virginia Tech

2023: University of Maryland

2022: Virginia Tech

2019: University of Maryland

2018: University of Tennessee-Knoxville

2017: University of Maryland

2016: West Virginia University

2015: Auburn University

2014: Virginia Tech

2013: University of Maryland

2012: Virginia Tech

2011: University of Rhode Island

2010: Virginia Tech

2009: Kansas State University

2008: Kansas State University

2007: Iowa State University

2006: West Virginia University

2005: Virginia Tech

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