TOP SOIL JUDGES - The Auburn University Soil-Judging Team beat out 11 other teams to claim first-place honors in the Southeast Regional Soil-Judging Contest hosted by North Carolina State University in Raleigh the last week in October. Coached by AU agronomy and soils associate professor Joey Shaw, left, team members include, from left, Jacob Hodnett, Daniel Goins, Amy Weaver, Taylor Boozer, Hal Darsey, Bradley Kirkland and Michael Gunn. In individual competition, Hodnett finished first overall, and Boozer placed third. Rounding out the top five behind the AU team were the University of Georgia, second; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, third; the University of Kentucky, fourth; and West Virginia University, fifth. The AU team now will represent the Southeast in the national competition, which will be held in March at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

News from:

OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station

Auburn University College of Agriculture

2 COMER HALL, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL 36849

334-844-4877 (PHONE)  334-844-5892 (FAX)

Jamie Creamer: jcreamer@auburn.edu

                            334-844-2783

11/03/05