Essay Contest
Post-Secondary Category
First Place – Magan Nash, South Dakota State University
Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, and Healthy People
Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt believed that, “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.” Roosevelt wrote these words in a letter to governors, in which he emphasized the importance of proper soil management and addressed the establishment of soil conversation programs. This letter, written in 1937, came in response to the tragedy of the dirty 30s, when severe dust storms ravished the Great Plains. These dust storms were the culmination of severe droughts, poor soil management practices, ineffective policies, and a general misunderstanding on the importance of soil health. The effects of the dust storms rippled throughout the nation by deteriorating the economy and triggering the Great Depression.
The importance of learning history is that by reflecting upon past mistakes and successes, we can apply these lessons to present scenarios to positively impact future generations. Throughout history, this relationship of past, present, and future is evident in the fact that history often repeats itself. In this example, Roosevelt reiterated the importance of learning from the dirty 30s in order to preserve soil. One of the proactive measures taken was the establishment of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 1933. The NRCS aims to “deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers and landowners can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.” The mission of the NRCS serves as a testament to the interconnectedness of the soil, food supply, and people. Through proper care of natural resources, producers can grow healthy food to promote consumer health and wellbeing. Although the dirty 30s and Great Depression were trying times, valuable lessons were learned. Therefore, by learning from these historical examples and taking intentional actions, we, as agriculturalists, can proactively work to protect our country’s soil, food supply, and people.
High School Category
First Place – Kayce Berger, Waubay School District
Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, and Healthy People
Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture and is essential for producing nutritious and safe foods. Soil health refers to the capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Healthy soil is characterized by a balanced composition of organic matter, minerals, water, air, and a diverse community of microorganisms. These components work together to support plant growth, regulate water and nutrient cycles, and suppress pests and diseases. Healthy soil has good structure and tilth, which allows for adequate root penetration, water infiltration, and air exchange, which are all critical factors for plant growth and productivity.
The link between healthy soil and healthy food is undeniable. Nutrient-dense foods are derived from crops grown in soils that are rich in essential minerals and organic matter. Research has shown that the nutritional quality of food is directly influenced by the health of the soil in which it is grown. Studies have demonstrated that organic farming practices that focus on building soil health result in higher levels of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in crops compared to conventionally grown counterparts. Healthy people are evident in the impact of diet on human health. Nutrient-rich foods play a crucial role in preventing diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, and certain types of cancer.
Healthy soil serves as the foundation for sustainable agriculture by providing essential nutrients to crops while also contributing to environmental resilience through improved water retention and reduced erosion. Healthy food derived from nutrient-dense crops grown in healthy soils plays a crucial role in meeting human nutritional needs while reducing the risk of exposure to harmful contaminants. Healthy people benefit from access to nutritious foods that support overall well-being and reduce the incidence of diet-related diseases.
Middle School Category
First Place – Ava Bjerke, Webster Area Middle School
Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, and Healthy People
Since the beginning of time, humankind has learned to use the land to fulfill their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. They focused on themselves, only using what they needed to survive. In more recent years, people have begun to use the fertile soil for commercial farming and raising livestock. Practices such as tilling and fertilizer applications have come into play to make for more efficient production, but they are proven to be unhealthy for our precious soil.
Soil is alive. It’s not just dirt, soil is also made of bacteria, fungi, plant roots, and billions of other microorganisms that help break down the nutrient-rich material. When organic matter breaks down, carbon is taken out of the atmosphere and put into the soil. It is in this process of breaking down material that nutrients and carbon are created and absorbed into the soil. Since the nutrients are being made in the soil, plants growing above the surface are constantly absorbing these nutrients and, in the process growing stronger. The water the plants need so desperately to survive comes from the nutrient dense soil and the plants end up chock-full of the essential vitamins and minerals we need in our diets.
Adding these super healthy plants, whether they be corn, lettuce, strawberries, or any other farm-grown food is crucial to our healthy lifestyles. Eating healthy sets out the path for the rest of our lives, and it all starts with the soil. If pollution, tillage, and other bad practices that are slowly killing the microorganisms found in the soil continue to relentlessly occur, we can kiss our comfortable and healthy lifestyles goodbye.
So, take the first step and start promoting soil health. It is the baseline of our lives here in South Dakota.
Video Contest
South Dakota Soil Health Coalition’s 2024 Student Soil Health Video Contest was open to all K-12 students in South Dakota. Prizes for the contest were $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $100 each for the three videos tied for third place.
