East Knox FFA places 19th in state agricultural soils contest

Recently, the East Knox FFA Agricultural Soils Career Development Event team placed 19th in the state event held Oct. 11 in Morrow County north of Mt. Gilead at the Headwaters Education Center. 

The team members were Hayden Garman, John Chadwick, Madisyn Frost, and Mackenzie Wilson. Garman finished as the ninth highest individual in the state with Chadwick finishing 79th, Frost placing 118th, and Wilson placing 130th out of 180 competitors from across Ohio.

East Knox earned a berth in the state agricultural contest after placing fourth out of 16 teams in the District 7 contest conducted earlier in Fairfield County near Rushville. Wilson was the fifth placing individual in the district with Garman placing 11th, Chadwick finishing 19th, and Frost placing 31st out of 71 individuals. 

The state is divided into 10 FFA districts, and the top five teams in each district advance to the state-level competition making a field of 50 teams. The 50 teams at the state contest came from nearly 200 teams that entered district-level competition from across Ohio. District 7 is a six county area consisting of Knox, Licking, Franklin, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross counties with 31 schools that have FFA.

Prior to the district contest East Knox FFA placed fourth in the county event held at Magers Farm north of Howard and sponsored by the Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District. Chadwick was the second-highest individual in Knox County.

In the agricultural land evaluation event members determine soil slope, landform, surface soil texture, subsoil texture, structure in the topsoil, depth of topsoil, drainage class, depth to restrictive features, compaction, infiltration and number of living organisms in the soil. This information is used to make recommendations for soil degradation based on soil erosion, soil compaction, water quality, and overall soil health. Best management practices are selected for each of these soil degradation problems. A soil fertility portion of the competition is also completed. Teams also take a written test over soils and find soil information from the web soil survey.

Gartman will receive a plaque for his state top 10 finish as the top 10 individuals and teams receive awards. Although they missed the state top 10 this year as a team, East Knox FFA has had a soil team place in the top 10 in the state 38 out of the past 43 years.