Soil judging competition | upskilling the next gen
The National Soil Judging competition was on this week and more than 200 participants - including several Hub members - were at Armidale on 25-28 November. Attendees came from across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to compete in the biggest Australian event since the competition began in 2012.
The 2025 event included 35 teams of students, early career professionals and experienced soil scientists testing their skills in soil description, classification and field interpretation across the New England Tablelands.
"Soil judging is widely regarded as a unique learning platform for emerging soil scientists and land management professionals," said competition convenor, UNE's Dr Ivanah Oliver.
"The competition challenges participants to apply their knowledge of soil properties in practical settings, facilitating skill development that extends across research, education, consultancy, government, and the private sector."
Participants examined soil profiles at UNE's Trevenna and Clark's Farms during two training days before battling it out at a surprise location on 28 November for the official competition day.
Teams assessed soil characteristics including texture, structure, drainage, and suitability for various land uses such as pasture, orchards and pine plantations.
Hub Regional Soil Co-ordinator Soil Cameron Leckie reports: "The two training days for the national soil-judging competition saw the teams, from universities across Australia and NZ and from industry, put through their paces in describing six profiles, classifying the soil and conducting land suitability assessments.
"The skills and knowledge learned and practiced were tested on Friday, competition day, where teams described two soils as a team, and one as individuals."
He coached a 淘片资源网 team and is competing with the Regional Soil Coordinators.
Jaimi-Lee Edwards from the Armidale Node was a volunteer at the event, which was also attended by Lismore Node Adoption Officer Gavin Tinning with the Southern Cross University team.
Cameron said that the practical skills gained from participation were incredibly important for developing the soil expertise needed for the future.
He added: "An exciting rumour that is circulating around the assembled mass of soil enthusiasts is the possible inclusion of soil judging for the first time ever as a demonstration sport at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics." We're not so sure about that, so the Hub will continue to promote the importance of soil every day!
PSSST
High school ag classes, Landcare groups and First Nations groups across southern Queensland and Northern NSW can now compete for a share in a soil-health prize pool worth $15,000.
It is the first time the groups have been included in the World Soil Day competition run by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub. The wider footprint of eligible entrants still includes primary producers/land managers.
Entries close on 4 December 2025, so you need to get filming this weekend!
The three prizes, each valued at $5,000, comprise a site visit from the Hub’s Regional Soil Coordinator (and Registered Soil Practitioner) Cameron Leckie, the collection of soil samples for comprehensive laboratory analysis and a written soil condition report.