Section 22 Evaluates Soil Profiles

By Mallory Unverfehrt

Section 22 FFA Reporter

Eight teams and about 75 individuals, battled through five rounds of competition held October 4th at the Wesclin High School Land Use Evaluation CDE (Career Development Event).

Each individual judges five pits of a soil profile with a possible 116 points available on each pit.

When evaluating the soil profile, organic matter, texture, permeability, surface runoff, inter drainage and aeration, and C value are evaluated.

C value is determined by taking the Z value (which is given) and dividing by the LS (found by using a chart with percent slope and length of slope). The C value is then used to determine the agricultural use of the site, what type of tillage is best for the soil.

First place team in Section 22 was Breese Central with 1606 points, followed by Wesclin (1576), Valmeyer (1496), Okawville (1485), Mascoutah (1441), Freeburg (1391), New Athens (1176), and Steelville (548).

Individually William Kuhl led the competition with 542 points followed by Cody Boruff (534), Abby Becherer (531), Blake Deering (530), Morgan Kampwerth (528), Sheldon McDowell (527), Billy Molle (526), Joe Ratermann (522), Brian Knopp (518), and Bethany Brinkmann (500).

Kuhl said the hardest part about the CDE was determining organic matter and soil texture.

First place finisher, William Kuhl, from Breese Central.