A game at a soil conference has provided fertile ground for the Lincoln University experts volunteering at the Young Farmer regional competitions.
Soil and Physical Science tutor Roger McLenaghen was at the New Zealand Society of Soil Science conference dinner in Napier last year, when dinner guests were asked to pick the soil that various wines were produced from.
He adapted the game for Junior and the Agrikids competitions sections of Young Farmers. The youngsters are asked to match agricultural products with their “preferred” soil that provides “Terroir”, the right set of conditions for their growth.
They might be asked to match Esk Valley wine, Taupo beef, or merino wool with soils such as Gimblett Gravel or pumice.
Lincoln University is a sponsor of the competition but a number of Lincoln Soil and Physical Science Tutors- Judith van Dijk, Roger McLenaghen, Josh Nelson, and Louisa Hall- all give their time freely.
“We all do this because we are passionate about soil science and also working with young people,” Roger said.
In February Roger and Josh attended the first of the seven Young Farmer regional competitions in Milton. For the remainder of the first semester, weekends have been spent in different parts of the country running the other six modules for regional competitions.
For the previous two years, Lincoln soils tutors have organised various modules highlighting soils. These have included texture, soil structure, calculating water content in soil and an experiment on nutrient leaching.They have also prepared the written exams for both the Agrikids and Junior Young farmers.
The top contestants from the regionals travel to Napier/Hasting for the Young Farmer grand final on 4-6 July.
He said the value to Lincoln University from the competition and sponsorship was not only from being associated with the Young Farmer competition, but also the feedback from some of the contestants and parents.
We have had comments such as “yes we are definitely going to Lincoln University’’, and “my daughter has never known what she was going to do; now she is going to Lincoln University to study soils”, Roger said.
The top contestants are also getting to know us as they are generally entering the competition over a number of years. We always congratulate them for staying with agriculture and take the opportunity to discuss Lincoln courses and their plans for the future. This interaction is of immense value.”