A Magic Week of Learning, Community and Celebration in Armidale
Introduction
The 2025 Australian Soil Judging Competition made history in Armidale, drawing a record-breaking number of participants to what became the largest soil judging competition ever held in Australia—and likely the entire southern hemisphere.
Over four days, thirty-five teams comprising hundreds of students, early-career professionals, academics, consultants, and volunteers gathered for an event that seamlessly blended hands-on field science, professional learning, and meaningful networking.
The welcoming atmosphere was palpable from the moment participants arrived at the University of New England campus. Throughout the afternoon, as buses rolled in, the Austin Page College courtyard filled with smiling faces and anticipation. Participants reconnected with old friends, forged new connections, and buzzed with anticipation for the days ahead.
Welcome to UNE
The competition opened with a welcome dinner hosted by the University of New England. With UNE’s long history in agriculture and soil science, the venue set the perfect tone for the event. Teams and coaches met for the first time, shared stories from the road and settled in for a week of learning and collaboration.
A highlight of the evening was the sense of community and anticipation. The welcome dinner sparked conversations that carried through the entire week and helped build the strong, supportive atmosphere UNE is known for.
“Soil science is critical to shaping our agricultural future. Hosting this competition reflects our commitment to hands-on learning and to supporting the next generation of scientists.”
Professor Chris Moran
Vice-Chancellor, University of New England
A Creative Start: Plasticine to 3D Prints
The welcome dinner also featured an unexpected and much-loved activity. In the centre of the welcome function was some colourful plasticine and a challenge to sculpt polyhedral soil structure shapes as accurately as possible. Throughout the evening many people stopped by and tried to sculpt a model, compared their models and explained their design choices.
The winning structures were later 3D printed into a set of educational models, turning a fun icebreaker into a new teaching resource for future soil workshops.
Training Days at UNE
Two full training days followed, held across eight soil pits on UNE’s farms. These pits represented a range of soil types, landscapes and land-use histories, offering a rich learning environment for participants with varied experience.
Teams rotated through the pits with their coaches, slowly building confidence through texture testing, horizon identification, classification and landscape interpretation. Day two saw teams gaining rhythm as workflow patterns and team synergy began to develop in anticipation of competition day.
Throughout the week, participants enjoyed insightful lunchtime speeches from Andrew Biggs, Ivanah Oliver and several sponsors, all sharing reflections on soil science careers, capability-building and the importance of community in the profession.
The coffee van became a beloved daily stop and an informal networking hub, drawing students, mentors and industry experts together between rotations. Lunches were relaxed and conversation-heavy, strengthening the sense of community that defined the event.
Training Highlights
- Eight soil pits across UNE farms
- Teams coached through hands-on tasks
- Informal mentoring across the paddocks
- Strong team development by day two
Competition Day at Balala Station
The final day took teams to Balala Station, managed by Richard Daugherty and Sarah Burrows. The property is recognised for regenerative land management and its diverse soils shaped by deliberate, long-term stewardship. Balala Station provided an ideal competition setting with a combination of grazing history, landscape variation and ecological management.
Teams completed four rotations, including:
- Two team pit assessments
- One individual pit, where participants worked solo
- One rest rotation
In a fun twist, a surprise coach team was announced that morning. Three coaches Stephen Cattle, Sally McInnes-Clark and Bianca Dask had their names drawn from a bucket and competed alongside the student and early-career teams.
Competition Pit Classifications
- Pit 1: Brown Sodosol
- Pit 2: Brown Chromosol
- Pit 3: Black Sodosol
The Balala Station Experience
Balala Station showcased how management decisions shape soil function. Participants observed contrasts between grazing zones, paddock histories and restoration areas, connecting soil condition to productivity and resilience. Soil Science Australia extends heartfelt thanks to Richard Daugherty and Sarah Burrows for hosting the 2025 competition and supporting hands-on soil education.
Awards Dinner at UNE Bistro
The competition concluded with a celebratory dinner at the UNE campus Bistro. Teams gathered with anticipation as results were announced and the top performers were recognised across student, early career and special award categories.
Awards and Results
Special Awards
Social Media Prize
#soiljudgingAU
Winner: Young in Soils and Earth Science Society (YISES)
South Australia
Instagram
Humus Hero – Dr David Page Award
Recognising inspiring mentorship
Recipients: Simon Buchanan and Lyndon McGrath
Early Career Professionals
Team Awards
1st: Soil Sleuths (SA)
2nd: GirlGais (QLD)
3rd (tie): Regional Soil Coordinators 2 and ASCassins (SESL Australia)
Individual Awards
1st: Holly Hayhurst, Reef Catchments
2nd: Erinne Stirling, University of Adelaide
3rd (tie): Jack Vernon, CSIRO and Alex Busch, Young in Soil and Earth Science Society
University Division
Team Awards
1st: University of Sydney – Undergrad
2nd: Pore Decisions 1, Lincoln University
3rd: (tie) The Feral Souls, Southern Cross University
and Dirt Bags, Young in Soil and Earth Science Society
Individual Awards
1st: Ava Robertson, University of Sydney
2nd (tie): Oliver Arnold, Massey University and Melita Ross, Southern Cross University
3rd: Genevieve Ball, University of Sydney
Trophies
South Pacific Region Trophy
Overall Winner
Soil Sleuths
Young in Soil and Earth Science Society
Walker Family Trophy
Australian Early Career Professionals Overall Winner
Soil Sleuths
Young in Soil and Earth Science Society
Bennison Family Trophy
Australian University Winner
University of Sydney – Undergrad
Acknowledgements
Organising Committee
- Ivanah Oliver, University of New England
- Stephen Cattle, University of Sydney
- Nathan Robinson, Federation University
- Emily Leyden, University of Adelaide
- Leah Moore, Australian National University
- Carol Smith, Lincoln University
Landholders
- Richard Daugherty
- Sarah Burrows
Judges and Contributors
- Soil science experts: Andrew Biggs (Qld SSA) and David Morand (NSW DCCEEW)
- Kirsten Hawking, University of Queensland
- Coaches and supporting volunteers
- SSA Team
- UNE Team
Sponsors
Competition Co-host
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Community Partner Sponsors