EDUCATION

Galva soils team digs in, claims title

Staff Writer

Geneseo Republic

These Galva FFA members claimed first place in the Section III Land Use/Soil CDE Contest hosted by Annawan High School on Oct. 1. Pictured in one of the four soil pits are (from left) Austin Dobbels, Jonathon Sturtevant, Sydney Reading, Nelson Kendall, Karlee Rylander and Bailey Yelm.

Galva High School took first place in the Section III Land Use/Soil CDE Contest, hosted by Annawan High School on Oct. 1.

Galva compiled 828 points, followed by Bureau Valley with 828; Sherrard 688; Kewanee 652; Orion 650; Geneseo 646; Princeton 592; AlWood 572; Stark County 572; Wethersfield 531; Cambridge 396; and Annawan 290.

Galva team members included Austin Dobbels, Jonathon Sturtevant, Nelson Kendall, Sydney Reading, Karlee Rylander and Bailey Yelm.

Andrew Smith of Sherrard was the top individual finisher with 316 points. Placing in the top 10 for Galva were Dobbels, second (292); Kendall, third (276); Rylander, fifth (260), and Reading, sixth (260).

Students evaluated four soil pits, determining landscape and soil profile characteristics such as slope, percentage organic matter, degree of erosion, soil texture and structure. They next calculated how those characteristics determined drainage, surface run-off, permeability and available water capacity as well as possible crop rotations and tillage methods.

Galva advances to the state competition on Oct. 14.