UC Davis students are taking their soil skills to the big stage, earning a spot in the 2025 National Collegiate Soils Contest after securing third place at the Region 6 Soil Judging Competition in New Mexico.

Last month’s regional contest, where undergraduate student teams are scored on their ability to describe and classify soils and landscapes, was held near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event was hosted by New Mexico State University with assistance by soil scientists with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The UC Davis team was guided by four doctoral students who worked closely with the undergrads, helping them prepare for the challenges of the day-long competition. The coaches were impressed by the team’s dedication and excited to see their hard work pay off.

“When we heard our name announced for third place, we knew we qualified for nationals, it was amazing, everyone was screaming and cheering,” said Ava-Rose Beech, an ecology Ph.D. student and one of the coaches. “It's an amazing group of students who are incredibly hard-working.”

Beech was joined by coaches Adolfo Coyotl, Jane Fudyma and Connie Wong, all Ph.D. students with the Soils and Biogeochemistry Graduate Group. Together, the coaches emphasized teamwork and a broader understanding of soil processes, ensuring the team was ready for the challenges of competition day.

Building soil expertise

Undergraduate students on the team represent a variety of majors, including sustainable agriculture and food systems and environmental science and management. Coyotl said the team welcomes any student with an interest in the ground beneath their feet. From there, the coaches teach them what they need to know during the course, Soil Science 198 Soil Judging, which covers soil properties and processes and the role soil plays in ecosystems and management.

“You don’t even need to be in science; just have a love of soil,” Coyotl said. “Students have to use their knowledge of landscape features and deductive reasoning and put to use all the practical hands-on sessions we do with them to assess the soil properties and capabilities.” 

During fall quarter, coaches held lectures in the classroom and then transitioned to teaching outside in practice pits, where students analyze and classify soil to sharpen their judging skills. Wong even recorded videos for students to watch on their own for extra training.

“It’s an intense course,” Wong said. “You never really know what you’ll actually see underground unless you get close and examine it. One of the valuable lessons for all of us is to keep the curiosity up and get your hands dirty until you figure out what’s actually there.”

On competition day, teams don’t know what type of landscape they’ll encounter until the contest begins. To prepare, students practice across various terrains, sharpening their ability to quickly evaluate soil profiles, texture and other characteristics.

Preparing for nationals

The 2025 national competition will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, April 27 to May 2. The coaches said they will continue to teach the fundamentals through winter and spring, including more practice pits in the Arboretum, near Putah Creek and at select UC Reserve locations.

“Next quarter, we’ll do some more in-depth, hardcore soil theory,” Fudyma said. “We’ll do some more practice pits and ramp that up leading to nationals.”

Working as a team to interpret complex soil profiles helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills – abilities that are valuable in fields like environmental science, land management and at government agencies such as the NRCS or USDA. The coaches said the skills gained from participating in the soil judging competition extend beyond soil science and can be useful in a variety of careers.

“No matter what they do, even if it’s not related to soil science specifically, this experience provides them with such a unique perspective that you wouldn’t have if you didn’t have exposure to these ideas,” Beech said. “It’s a really incredible way to shift how you see how land develops and how you exist in the land around you.”