Australian National University (ANU) students and early career researchers recently visited the Monaro for a hands-on soil judging training session. The training day was designed to help prepare them for the Soil Science Australia soil judging competition that was held in Armidale at the end of November. The students and researchers were joined by coach, Dr Leah Moore, from ANU’s Fenner School and Jo Powells from Local Land Services at the local property ‘Coolringdon’, where the group assessed the soil characteristics on display in an unused silage pit, which provided a perfect example of the Monaro’s basalt soil profiles to study. Dr Moore emphasised the importance of field-based learning. “Soil judging isn’t just about memorising classifications, it’s about understanding the story of the landscape,” Dr Moore said. “The Monaro offers incredible diversity, and seeing profiles in person helps students connect theory to practice. Soil judging competitions like this build confidence and sharpen technical skills, but they also foster a deeper appreciation for how soils underpin ecosystems and agriculture.” By immersing themselves in the Monaro’s unique geology, the ANU students gained invaluable insights and soil assessment experience ahead of their upcoming competition where they will compete in teams as well as in individual categories. “It’s fantastic to see both students and recent graduates of the ANU so enthusiastic about soil science,” Ms Powells said. “Their interest in not only the soil judging but also in hearing about local soil management practices and what landholders do to assess and manage their soil fertility reflected their genuine interest in the practical application of the theory and skills they had learnt.” The 2025 soil judging competition ran from 25 to 27 November with 35 teams including the ANU teams gathered for an immersive few days of learning, friendly competition and plenty of hands-on soil experience.
