Source: Mickey Ransom, 785-532-7203, mdransom@k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415.
News release prepared by: Katie Starzec, 785-532-7105, kstarzec@k-state.edu
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
K-STATE SOIL JUDGING TEAM TAKES FIRST AT NATIONAL CONTEST
Manhattan -- The Kansas State University Soil Judging Team won first place overall at the 2008 National Soil Judging Contest. It is the first time K-State has won the national contest.
The event, hosted by the University of Rhode Island in mid-April, included 21 teams.
Coach of the K-State team is Mickey Ransom, professor of agronomy, who is assisted by Scott Dooley, senior in agronomy, Jewell.
The K-State team won second place overall in 2007 and has qualified for the national competition 13 out of the last 14 years. The team also has won the regional contest three out of the last five years.
The contests are an activity of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America.
Members of the K-State Soil Judging Team, with individual honors if earned, include:
Paul Hartley, graduate student in agronomy, Emporia, sixth place; Kelsey McGie, sophomore in milling science and management, Iola; Andrew Newkirk, freshman in agronomy, Manhattan; Ryan Cyr, senior in agronomy, Miltonvale, 14th place; Andrew McGowan, junior in agronomy, and Angela Tran, junior in agronomy, both of Prairie Village; Leah Ferdinand, senior in agronomy, Reading, second place; and Adam Heitman, senior in agronomy, Webber, 20th place.