Colfax FFA takes first at State Land Judging

COLFAX - The Colfax FFA won first-place in the State Land Judging Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Reardan.

The event hosted by the Lincoln County Conservation District took place in Reardan at the farm of Jim and Diane Baye brought twenty six groups representing schools throughout the state.

Top teams were recognized with certificates based on scores, with Colfax taking home first place to represent the state next April at the National level.

The contestants evaluated soil and site characteristics at three cropland sites and one home site. There were backhoe pits up to over 40 inches deep that were excavated at each of the four sites to expose soil profiles and a variety of soils that formed in different parent materials within each pit were judged for the contest.

Highest scoring individual students were also announced and awarded, with Preston Olson, of Garfield-Palouse receiving the highest overall score.

Colfax's state winning team consisted of Juniors Isabella Huntley and Ainslee Imler, and Seniors Marchele McNeilly, Karly Wigen and Darin Repp.

Wigen said she enjoys putting knowledge that they have learned in the classroom to use in a hands-on competition.

There were four individual members recognized as top 10 individuals at the state event including Huntley, who placed second, Imler placed third, and Wigen took sixth in the state and Repp took tenth place.

The Colfax FFA students thank Rob Shindler for assisting them over the last few years.

"It has given me the opportunity to learn about what makes a healthy, productive soil; which I can take home and connect it to the family farm," said Huntley, about why she enjoyed the Soils and Land Evaluation event.

Other Colfax FFA members that participated included Miranda Phillips, Cooper Watt, Garin Monson, Riley Hennigar and Jaydin Wells.

Garfield-Palouse FFA was awarded runner-up.

The Colfax FFA students will go on to represent the state in Oklahoma City in April through May of 2025.