'Soil Your Undies' Beaumont Science Fair Winners Announced: 2025

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story indicated the science fair involved Banning Unified School District students, rather than Beaumont Unified. We regret the error.

BEAUMONT, CA — When it comes to asking the big "what if?" questions at the local science fair, Beaumont Unified School District had some unique ideas in 2025. The district announced the 18 winners of the 2025 District Science and Engineering Fair this week.

Caleb Clays, from Starlight Elementary School, won first place at the fair with his experiment, titled “Soil Your Undies,” which tested soil health by burying underwear in different locations, according to a district spokesperson.

"Clays believes farmers should consider using underwear as a method to test soil health based on his original research. His experiment shows that buried undies may reveal the presence of bioindicators, the beneficial 'bugs' living in the dirt that help plants grow.

"Farmers may want to plant underwear along with their crops this spring according to fifth grade student," a district spokesperson said with a nod to the experiment. "Clays hypothesizes if the soil is healthy, buried boxer briefs will break down faster thanks to active bacteria."

That winning experiment was just one of 18 winning projects selected to proceed to the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair. Experiments are judged on the application of the scientific method, materials used, accuracy, and creativity.

Fourth grader Charlie Woolridge from Brookside Elementary School placed second while eighth grader Cameron Centner from Summerwind Trails School placed third.

The county-level winners will proceed to the state competition for a chance to proceed to the final, international-level, they said.

The annual Science and Engineering Fair is an excellent way to promote academics at school, according to District Science Fair Coordinator Marie Ferguson.

“Science is an easy way for kids to be engaged in school. You can teach math through science.
You can teach reading through science and writing. Everything can go through science and it is
highly engaging. Kids love it."

In addition to engaging students in school through the use of science, the experiments are
primarily done at home.

According to the California Teachers Association website, families are also involved in the student’s learning.

“Education research has made it clear that parents who are actively involved in their children’s
learning at home help their children become more successful learners in and out of school.”