Tri-County High School Students Test Their Skills At 51st Annual Land Judging Contest

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN — The 51st Annual Tri-County Land Judging Contest was held on October 2nd, 2025. This annual event rotates between Burnett, Polk and Washburn Counties. This year’s contest, hosted by the Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Division, was held at Forage Girl Farms and the Lodge at Crooked Lake.

The event was attended by 67 students representing 6 schools. The students compete as teams and as individuals. Each school is allowed two teams consisting of four contestants each, this year the event had 12 full teams. At each soil pit location, the participants examine the soil and surrounding land. They not only describe texture, structure, drainage, and production capabilities to discern soil properties, but they also use that information to classify the land for long term use by identifying its limitations and various conservation practices needed.

After judging the pits, the scores and notable features of the pits were reviewed and questions answered. Afterwards students returned to the Lodge at Crooked Lake to hear from local producers in the Polk-Burnett Farmers Union and St Croix Valley Food Alliance, followed by lunch and a presentation of awards.

Team winners, and recipients of trophies, were:

• 1st Place: Webster Team #2, 808 points: Bryant McKinley, Jamison Mogen, Lizzy Treague, and Elle Treague.
• 2nd Place: Webster Team #1, 794 points: Marley Coe, Aiden Lamb, Julian Krear, and Madeleine Behm.
• 3rd Place: Shell Lake Team #1, 794 points: Macy Melton, Jameson Buckridge, Kasey Schrankel, and Andrew Imrick.

1st Place Winner – Webster Team #2; L to R – Bryant McKinley, Jamison Mogen, Lizzy Treague, and Elle Treague

Individual winners and recipients of a commemorative medal were:

• 1st Place:
  • Mahalia Castleberg
    • Spooner Team #1
    • 301 points
• 2nd Place:
  • Marley Coe
    • Webster Team #1
    • 280 points
• 3rd Place:
  • Kasey Schrankel
    • Shell Lake Team #1
    • 272 points
• 4th Place:
  • Bryant McKinley
    • Webster Team #2
    • 267 points
• 5th Place:
  • Lizzy Treague
    • Webster Team #2
    • 261 points
• 6th Place:
  • Jamison Mogen
    • Webster Team #2
    • 261 points
• 7th Place:
  • Ethan Wojchik
    • Amery Team #2
    • 260 points
• 8th Place:
  • Weston Facchinni
    • Amery Team #2
    • 258 points

Individual Competition Winners; L to R – 1st through 8th place; Mahalia Castleberg, Marley Coe, Kasey Schrankel, Bryant McKinley, Lizzy Treague, Jamison Mogen, Ethan Wojchik, Weston Facchinni

This year’s event was extremely competitive with a narrow margin between the top team and individual scores, several times a tiebreaker based on the highest pit score was required. Congratulations to all the students who participated on a job well done!

We would like to thank Forage Girls Farm and MSC Excavating and Hauling for digging the pits and their hospitality in hosting the competition.

Special thanks to the Polk-Burnett Chapter of the Farmers Union and the St Croix Valley Food Alliance for providing a wonderful lunch and volunteering their time.

Additional thanks to all of the volunteers and staff that made the event possible. We are excited for next year’s competition in Polk County!