During my years as a member of my FFA chapter, one of my favorite parts was competing in
CDEs, especially the soils judging contest. There’s just something about digging into the earth
and trying to understand and describe what the soil is telling you.
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to compete at the Farm Progress Soils Judging Contest. I’ll
admit it took a little persistence with Mrs. Chaudion to make it happen, but I’m glad she let me
do it. The funny part? I showed up without any of my tools. I didn't have a slope finder, color card, water bottle, or even a knife. Despite all that, I still managed to place fourth overall. It was a great reminder that all the knowledge I learned years ago hadn’t left me. It was still there just waiting to be put to use.
The following week, I got the chance to help the Principles of Agriculture class critique a soil
pit. I decided to make it fun and engaging because let’s face it, soil can teach you a lot if you
are willing to learn it. That’s something my advisor, Mr. Jim Wildermuth, always says.
He taught me to treat soil with respect and even personality. For example, you always introduce
yourself by saying, “Hello, beautiful soil.” When teaching texturing, he’ll tell the freshman class
and my teammates to ribbon and squeeze it, “like it owes you money.” And of course, he'd always
end with Wildermuth’s good old saying:
“Soils are beautiful, they smell great, and they never lie.”
Just like in life, good parent material in soil, is essential for building a strong foundation. The
strongest roots come from the best beginnings, and I have come to believe the same is true with
people. The foundations we build in life, trust, respect, hard work, and kindness, are the ones
that last forever. Whether it’s in agriculture, education, or relationships, the foundation you build
influences everything that develops from it and how you pass it along to others.
It’s moments like these that remind me why soils judging has stayed with me all these years. It’s
never just been about a contest, it’s about learning to understand the land, creating memories
with others, and appreciating the value of strong foundations, both in the soil and in life.
I’ll end this blog with a verse from the book of Luke that captures that idea perfectly:
"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word,
retain it, and by persevering produce a crop" — Luke 8:15
Stay Wismatic,
Jesus Santana
2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Sentinel
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