FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas soil judging team recently placed first in the Region IV Collegiate Soil Judging Contest at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, with four individuals finishing in the top 15.

The team from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences finished ahead of Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University, among others, to advance to the national contest in the spring for the sixth straight year.

Team members include Rebecca Anderson, Marya McKee, Tim Moore, Lynnette "Dave" Smith and Quentin Williams. Kris Brye, professor of applied soil physics and pedology in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, is the coach.

"Soil judging provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to improve their comfort level in the field, and hone their skills in reading the soil and interpreting the landscape," said Brye. "These are skills which are being lost too quickly in the present generation of undergraduate students. Participating in soil judging often provides an advantage for students who are competing for jobs related to natural resources."

McKee won top overall individual honors as the high scorer. Moore was 10th, Anderson 12th, Smith 15th and Williams 24th.

"Each team member, and the team as a whole, persevered through a tough three days of practicing and a challenging contest," said Brye. "I am very proud of their efforts. They deserve the recognition because they worked hard to earn it."

The U of A squad was also second in the team judged pit portion of the contest behind Texas A&M.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.