Polk County High School’s FFA senior land judging team has made history, qualifying for nationals for the seventh consecutive year — the longest active streak in the North Carolina FFA Association.
The senior team placed fourth at the state competition Nov. 15 in Stanley County, earning a spot at the National Land and Range Competition in Oklahoma City in May 2026. The junior team placed second in the junior division at the same competition.
The senior team consisting of Simon Moore, Samantha Stephenson, Abigail Lewis and Chloe Emory took first place honors in the federation and western region before placing fourth in the state senior division. The junior team of Drew Young, Daniel Griffin, Colton Jackson and Zane McFalls placed first in the federation and western region and second in the state junior division.
More than 40 teams competed in the 71st Annual North Carolina FFA Association Land Judging Career Development Event.
Agricultural education teacher Chauncey Barber said the consecutive national qualifications reflect a sustained commitment to excellence.
“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,” Barber said. “Just 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.”
Land judging competitions require students in grades 7-12 to analyze land characteristics such as soil type, erosion and drainage to determine the best possible use. Knowledge about soils can be organized and applied in managing farms, fields and woodlands, developing communities and engineering work. Students learn why soils respond differently to management practices and how soil properties affect crop growth, urban uses and environmental concerns.
The event is one of 43 different career development events offered to North Carolina FFA members on the state level. The Soil Science Society of North Carolina sponsors the competition.
The first “Soil Appreciation and Soil Judging School” was held in April 1955, when 188 FFA members met on a parcel of land in Harnett County near Dunn where Interstate 95 was being constructed.
Community members interested in helping sponsor the Polk County High School FFA Land Judging Team’s trip to Oklahoma can contact Chauncey Barber at 828-894-2525 or cbarber@polkschools.org.
