Since 1952, Oklahoma has welcomed high school students from across the United States to the National Land and Range Judging Contest. This national contest now averages over 700 participants each year.
The contest consists of three separate events – land judging, range judging, and homesite judging.
Land judging examines soil characteristics to assess its quality and capabilities. Examples of areas reviewed are erosion, slope, drainage, and permeability. Reviewing these characteristics allows students to learn about how our soil can be used, how different soils should be managed, and, most importantly, how to conserve one of our critical natural resources. Range judging teaches students how to properly identify plants, their growth habits, and their value for livestock, as well as how to best manage and preserve range land to maximize use and minimize negative impact. The purpose of the homesite judging contest is to raise awareness of the importance of our soil resources and to educate students about the diversity of soils. The contest will introduce them to the basics of soil assessment and proper management for agricultural and urban land uses.
Contestants must first qualify in their home state to be eligible to register and compete at the National Land and Range Judging Contest held in Oklahoma.
The National Land and Range Judging Contest is judged by soil scientists from Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). These volunteers dedicate their time to educating participants about soil and plant conservation and provide valuable feedback to the participants.
NLRJ 2026 will be held Tuesday, May 5th – Thursday, May 7th in El Reno, OK.
LINKS TO ALL CONTEST MATERIALS ARE BELOW.
Still have questions? Contact OACD
Email: taylormarshall@okconservation.org or call (918) 729-4229.
