Bell FFA members examine soil quality

By Carrie A. Mizell

Studying dirt may not seem very exciting to most people, but Bell Middle School student Shelby Langford gets a kick out of studying soil and determining what the best agricultural use of land is based on the dirt’s content.
Shelby was named Middle School High Individual at the Tri-County Land Judging Contest on February 26.
The daughter of Edgar and Sharon Langford, Shelby, along with 66 other middle and high school students from Gilchrist and Levy counties, traveled to Bronson to take part in the annual contest, which is hosted by the Levy Soil & Water Conservation District.

Bell Middle School Team I members are shown left to right:
Shelby Langford, Kristi Martin, Ashlyn Baillie and Cassidy Panchyshyon.

Students analyzed four pits, evaluating each one’s soil characteristics, which ranged from surface texture, organic matter and rooting zones, to permeability of the soil, percent of erosion, drainage and slope. The students also had to determine the soil order at various depths.

Bell High School Team I members are shown left to right:
Sara Hunter, Danielle Holstein and Desiree Holstein.

After completing the first portion of the contest, students then had to figure out what the best agricultural use of the land would be, based on the information they gathered from the four pits.
According to Darlene Smith, district secretary for the Levy Soil & Water Conservation District, the students also studied soil conservation and determined what the Best Management Practice (BMP) to keep the soil in production would be.
Overall, Bell middle and high school students performed very well at the contest.
In the Gilchrist County Middle School Division, Bell Middle School FFA Team I members Shelby Langford, Kristi Martin, Ashlyn Baillie and Cassidy Panchyshyon placed first. Bell Middle School FFA Team 2 members Brandon Thomas, Chance Rolling, Payton Ryker and Baylee Rolling placed second, and Bell Middle School FFA Team III members Audrey Powers, Kailey Roux and Cierra Cartwright placed third.
Bell High School FFA Team I members Sara Hunter, Danielle Holstein and Desiree Holstein placed first in the Gilchrist County High School Division. Second place went to Bell High School FFA Team II members Lucas Wilson, Courtney Akins, Katie Geiger and Brenda Sites. Third place in the high school division went to Danny Logan, Delbert Geiger and Clint Wood.
Senior High Individual was awarded to Bell FFA member Courtney Akins.
“We would like to thank all the area businesses that made donations for this event,” Darlene Smith said. “A special thank you to Mr. David Benton, owner of the farm where the Tri-County Land Judging Contest took place.”
Winning teams will go on to participate at the state land judging contest, which will be held in Lake County on March 26.