The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UWSP) Soil Judging team placed 13th overall at the National Soil Judging Contest in North Carolina the end of March, earning a top-tier national ranking among collegiate programs.

Nearly 80 universities field soil judging teams nationwide, with 29 advancing to this year’s national competition. UW-Stevens Point’s finish placed it in the upper group of qualifying teams.

The team is advised by soil and waste resources professor Bryant Scharenbroch, with assistant coach Owen Turner supporting training and field preparation. Although the program includes nearly 40 members, only about 20 students travel to nationals, and four students compete.

This year’s competitive team included Elliot Nimmer, Mary Chesnut, Erin Tschida, and Nora Hunt. Nimmer led UWSP with a 17th-place individual finish out of 112 competitors, one of the strongest placements at the event.

Soil judging provides students with intensive, field-based experience in soil science. Competitors examine soil pits, identify horizons, evaluate landscape features, and classify soils under timed conditions. The work mirrors professional tasks in agriculture, land management, conservation, and environmental consulting, giving students practical skills in field analysis, environmental interpretation, and rapid decision-making.

UW-Stevens Point has a strong record of national success, including a second-place finish at the 2021 national contest. The team consistently qualifies for nationals through Region III, one of the most competitive regions in the country.

Soil judging is one of the many hands-on opportunities available to UWSP students, offering a deeper, more immersive learning experience than classroom instruction alone. By working directly with soils in the field, students strengthen their technical skills, build confidence in real-world analysis, and gain practical preparation for careers in natural resources, agriculture, and environmental science.