News Releases

AMES, Iowa — A team of Iowa State University students finished first in the 2007 American Society of Agronomy National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest.

Nick Ihde, a junior in agricultural business from Prairie du Chien, Wis. was the first-place individual overall, and Jana Matthiesen, a senior in agricultural studies from Bryant, finished sixth out of 83 students in the individual competition.

Twenty-one universities participated in the contest, which was hosted by Utah State University April 15-20.

Other team members included John Hammerly, a senior in agronomy from Newton; David Laubenthal, a junior in agronomy from Wesley; Curtis Maeder, a sophomore in agricultural engineering from Creston; Grant Nelson, a junior in agronomy from Greenfield; Adam Peterson, a senior in agronomy from Boone; and Ashley Raes, a sophomore in agronomy from Johnston.

Jon Sandor, agronomy professor, and Amber Anderson, an agronomy graduate student from Aurelia, coach the team.

Editor’s note: Pictures of the team are available by contacting Melea Reicks Licht.