HHMS Junior Team advances to State Soils Judging Contest

Two Hamilton Heights Middle School teams and a senior from Hamilton Heights High School recently competed in the Area 6 Soils Judging Competition held in the Shelby County area.

Soils judging involves members demonstrating their understanding of soil physical properties and corresponding best use management practices for farmland use and/or home site development. Members are tested on their abilities to determine soil texture, drainage, slope, and determine if the site is eligible for various uses. While at the area contest, students judged four different holes.

Taking home first-place honors in the junior division, the Hamilton Heights FFA Juniors 1 team, consisting of Annie Sheller (1st Individual), Jackson Fite (3rd Individual), Hallie Sheller (4th Individual), and Kaylee Smith (11th Individual), advance to state level competition.

“Annie’s score, as a junior competitor, was the best overall score,” Emilie Carson said. “Technically, she won the entire contest!” The top junior team’s score would have placed second in the senior division.

HHMS Juniors 2, consisting of Davie Sheller (6th Individual), Abby Sheller (9th Individual), James Fenelon (12th Individual), and Zoe Kincaid (13th Individual), also performed well, placing third in the junior division.

Hamilton Heights Middle School’s Junior 2nd team brought home the third-place ribbon from the Shelby County Soils Judging contest. Team members included (from left) Abby Sheller, James Fenelon, Davie Sheller, and Zoe Kincaid. (Photo provided)

Marshall Frye was the lone senior competitor for Heights FFA. Frye finished 30th individually in the contest.

“For the past few years, Heights has not been as active in Soils Judging,” Carson said. “Thanks to coach Adam Sheller, our soils judging teams are ramping back up and it’s exciting to see these young FFA members get involved early and be competitive.”

Sheller said, “With a couple of junior teams like this, our future looks bright in soils judging. Every coach and competitor dreams of that Oklahoma red dirt (National Soils Judging Competition) and with teams starting this early it makes that goal attainable.”

Hamilton Heights middle school and high school students who participated in the recent Soils Judging contest in Shelby County included (back row, from left) Marshall Frye (HHHS), Kaylee Smith, Hallie Sheller, Annie Sheller, and Jackson Fite; (front row, from left) James Fenelon, Abby Sheller, Zoe Kincaid, and Davie Sheller. (Photo provided)