High school students from approximately 40 school districts will participate in the Northwest Iowa District Future Farmers of America (FFA) soil judging contest on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Morningside College.

High school students from approximately 40 school districts will participate in the Northwest Iowa District Future Farmers of America (FFA) soil judging contest on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Morningside College.

Hosted by Morningside’s Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies Program, the event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome and written exams in the Yockey Family Community Room located in the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave.

From 10 to 11:30 a.m., students will judge soils types in four pits located on J&R Sod Farm near Sergeant Bluff. Students return to the Yockey Room on the Morningside campus at 11:45 a.m. for awards, lunch and a campus tour.

Winning teams from this district competition will earn a trip to the state contest in October in Ames, Iowa.

“All of us associated with Morningside’s ag and food studies program are looking forward to hosting this FFA competition,” said Chris Benson, director of the Regina Roth Applied Agricultural and Food Studies Program. “This is a major event for the program’s first year, and our Morningside students and faculty are eager to interact with the high school students and their instructors.”