October 1, 2026
Southeast Area Land Judging Competition Held in Richardson County
RICHARDSON COUNTY, Neb. – A total of 270 students and adults participated in the 2026 Southeast Area Land Judging competition held Wednesday, September 30, in Richardson County, Nebraska. The farm of Eldon and Ruth Snoke near Humboldt generously hosted the event, bringing together participants from 16 area schools to test their skills in soil and land evaluation.
The competition provides students with hands-on experience in understanding soil characteristics, evaluating land capability for crop production, and identifying appropriate conservation and management practices. These skills help students better understand sustainable agriculture, responsible land use, and the importance of natural resource stewardship.
During the competition, participants rotated through four judging sites, where they had 20 minutes at each location to evaluate the soil and record their answers. The experience challenges students to apply their knowledge of soil properties and determine how land can best be managed for long-term productivity and conservation.
The event was a collaborative effort between the Nemaha Natural Resources District (NRD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD). The Nemaha NRD extends its appreciation to Mark Willoughby, retired NRCS soil scientist, for volunteering his time and expertise as contest foreman, and to Eldon and Ruth Snoke for generously hosting the competition on their farm. Their support helps make this valuable educational opportunity possible for area students.
“Land stewardship starts with understanding the resources we depend on,” said Maddie Million, Information & Education Coordinator for the Nemaha NRD. “Helping students understand the land today helps prepare the next generation of stewards.”
The following teams qualified to advance to the state competition:
- Beatrice – Savannah Bolli, Jackson Rickers, Mia Holthus, Kipton Lovitt
- Johnson County Central – Cooper Jones, Tegan Topp, Stefani Peters, Tim Johns
- Syracuse – Gage Hobbs, Kirsten Knake, Max Cary, Pressley Wilhelm
- Johnson-Brock – Quentin Behrends, Noah Metschke, Evelyn Burgett, Johnny Bohling
- Diller-Odell – Aubrey Roelfs, Josh Landon, Keeton Warnke, Creyton Heidemann
In addition to the top qualifying teams, the top ten individuals will also advance to the state competition. Individual state qualifiers are: Kailey Hartman (4), Elijah Leyden (7).
The Nemaha Natural Resources District (NRD) is one of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts, serving eight counties in southeast Nebraska within the Nemaha River Basin. The District is governed by a publicly elected board and focuses on flood and erosion control, soil conservation, water quality and quantity, and outdoor recreation. Learn more at www.nemahanrd.org.