Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville participated in the American Society of Agronomy Region III Collegiate Soils competition on Oct. 7 through Oct. 10. The contest was held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Approximately 70 students from six universities participated in the competition.

The contest consisted of four individual sites and two group-judged sites where students described, classified and evaluated soil for specific land uses. Participants were scored based on the agreement between their descriptions and those of the professional soil scientists serving as contest officials.

Only the top three teams qualified for the American Society of Agronomy National contest to be held in March 2009 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Teams qualifying for the national competition were the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (first place), Northern Illinois University (second place) and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (third place). Other universities participating in the competition were Purdue University, UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls.

Two UWP students placed within the top 10 individuals, they were Ross Brunsman (fifth place) and Daniel Schober (10th place). The UWP team also placed third in the group-judging portion of the contest.

The UWP soils team has qualified for the American Society of Agronomy National Soils competition 38 years in a row, representing the longest consecutive qualifying streak of any university. Members of the UWP soils team participating in the contest were: Ross Brunsman, New Vienna, Iowa; Lindsay Byrne, Oregon; Dana Clark, Mount Hope; Travis Drier, Elkhorn; Jacob Gevelinger, Mineral Point; Matt Karls, Waterloo; Drew Nesemeier, Milledgeville, Ill.; Daniel Schober, Milton; Rebecca Trewartha, Hazel Green; and Casey Watkins, Woodstock, Ill. The team is coached by Chris Baxter, UWP associate professor of soil and crop science. For more information, contact Baxter at (608) 342-1388 or baxterch@uwplatt.edu.