Iowa FFA Agriscience Competition in Ames
The Iowa FFA Agriscience competition was held at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Thursday, March 30th. The Iowa FFA Agriscience Fair is open to 7-12 grade students. Students have the opportunity to exhibit their Agriscience research in six different categories: Animal Systems; Environment Services/Natural Resource Systems; Food Products and Processing Systems; Plant Systems; Power, Structural and Technical Systems; and Social Systems. FFA members from Iowa that are selected as a national finalist in grades 7-12 may earn the opportunity to compete in the National FFA Agriscience Fair later in the fall. As part of the National FFA Agriscience Fair, students showcase their project and interview with a panel of judges. After all students have been interviewed, national summer judging scores are then combined with convention interview scores to calculate the overall ranking of projects within each category and division. Each participant is ranked gold, silver or bronze and receives a pin. The top three projects in each category and division are recognized for their efforts on the main stage during a general convention session. During this recognition ceremony, final ranking is announced. The top three projects in each category received medals for their achievements and each overall division winner will receive a plaque and be recognized next month at the 95 th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. The Agriscience Fair was made possible with support from Nationwide through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
MMCRU FFA Members Hannah Doellinger and Leandra Klinker presented their Agriscience Experiment titled “Worms to the Moon” demonstrating how worms placed in a moon soil simulant could help Royal Pea Plant grow from seed. This Plant the Moon Challenge experiment was placed 1st in the Plant Systems Division and research is being continued. FFA member Kaden Neddermeyer also presented his experiment titled “The Tastes of Colors” competing in the Food Systems Division. Kaden experimented with his peers to distinguish a flavor profile with different colors of apple juice