Dr Cameron Grant, Visiting Researh Fellow with the School of AFW, took a team of undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Adelaide to the 5th National Soil Judging Competition in Queensland 25-29 September.
The Adelaide team placed 2nd by two points to the University of Sydney in a field of 13 teams across Australia and New Zealand. Team SA members included PhD candidate Erinne Stirling, BScAgr 2nd year student Bethany Sleep, and two 3rd year BSc(Soil Sci) students Esther Toth and Shan Huang.
They all trained hard for several weeks beforehand under the guidance of Mr James Hall (President, Soil Science Australia SA Branch) – you may have seen them working at the roadside cuttings along Waite Road after hours!
After two long practice days on the Darling Downs near Toowoomba, the team entered the main competition near Oakey, Queensland. It was a very hot 38 degrees C on the day with a hot northwesterly blowing all day, but our students held up well and did the University of Adelaide proud. ABC radio was on hand to interview them for the Country Hour, which will appear on South Australian radio in the coming weeks.
Thanks go to Prof Mike McLaughlin and A/Prof Ron Smernik plus Soil Science Australia-SA Branch for helping fund the students.
