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Polk County High School’s Senior Land Judging Team is once again returning to national competition.

The PCHS FFA Chapter recently participated in the 70th Annual North Carolina FFA Association Land Judging Career Development Event, held in Robeson County. The event, sponsored by the Soil Science Society of North Carolina, provided an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of soil types, erosion, drainage, and land management.

The Polk FFA Senior Team, consisting of Leah Morton, Essie Mitchell, Porter Langley and Alex Martin, placed fifth overall, securing a spot in the National Land and Range Competition in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the end of April. The team’s qualification marks the sixth consecutive year that the Polk FFA Chapter has sent a group to nationals, the longest streak of any high school program in North Carolina.

In addition, the Junior Land Judging Team from Polk FFA was named state runner-up. The team included Reeve Carroll, Abigail Lewis and Chloe Emory. Lewis earned recognition as the highest scoring individual in the junior division.

“We always want to win state, but our number one goal is to try to get every kid who participates the chance to go to nationals,” said PCHS agricultural teacher Chauncey Barber. “Just really proud and thankful to have great students and a lot of community support.

“I really believe these experiences outside of school give students an advantage on down the road in life that cannot be measured by a test! My old Agricultural Education teacher, Richard Smith, and I look forward to taking this group to nationals.”

The Land Judging Career Development Event is one of 43 offered by the North Carolina FFA and encourages students in grades 7-12 to analyze land characteristics to determine the most suitable use for soil in various settings, including farms, fields, and communities. Understanding the impact of soils on agricultural practices and environmental concerns is a crucial aspect of the competition.

The top three teams and the highest scoring individual will be recognized at the North Carolina FFA State Convention in Raleigh, which will take place June 24-26, 2025.

To help sponsor the Polk County High School FFA Land Judging Team’s trip to Oklahoma, contact Chauncey Barber at (828) 817-0528 or cbarber@polkschools.org.