LEXINGTON, Ky. — A University of Kentucky soil judging team exceeded expectations at the 2026 National Collegiate Soils Contest, placing seventh among 28 competing universities and qualifying an individual competitor for the international competition in China.

The competition, hosted March 22-27 near Raleigh, North Carolina, drew more than 300 students in the largest national soil judging contest ever conducted. Jose Villanos, a rising senior studying agricultural and medical biotechnology at UK's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, placed fifth individually.

"We didn't think we did well at all, and especially I didn't think I was going to do well," Villanos said, recalling his initial expectations.

Villanos' strong performance comes with additional accolades. While competing in the soil pits, he learned he had been selected as a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship recipient. He later discovered his team's seventh-place finish at nationals, making it one of eight top-10 finishers who will represent the United States at the 23rd World Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences in Nanjing, China in June, though he is unable to travel.

The UK team, led by Chris Shepard, an associate professor of pedology in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, trains students to analyze soil composition, texture, color and layers called horizons. Students also interpret how soils affect land use, including construction and infrastructure development.

"The goal is to provide them with enough information and knowledge that they're able to go and independently do this during the competition — and, obviously, hopefully after the competition as well," Shepard said.

The seven competing UK students were Michaela Cobb, Grant Feese, Aydin Khosrowshahi, Allie Reagan, Avery Ritchey, Ella Shields and Villanos. The team qualified for nationals by finishing sixth at the Southeast Regional Competition, claiming the final qualifying spot, according to team assistant coach Grace Bodine.

"We all freaked out," Bodine said of the regional results. "That helped boost the confidence of the students from that point on."

Enrollment in UK's soil judging courses continues to grow due to the hands-on learning experience, Shepard said. Both he and Bodine, a doctoral student in Integrated Plant and Soil Sciences, benefit from working with the program.

"It's the best experience you can get to learn about soils," Bodine said. "You're in the dirt, you're in the pit."