The Sleepy Eye FFA 8th & 10th graders who competed in the State Agriscience Fair included: front, l to r – Connor Mack, John Paul Montemayor, Riley Voigt, Karter Haala, Keeyan Netzke, Braylon Nelson. Middle – Maddy Goldschmidt, Alex Confer, Breanna Lopez, Brianna Ziegenhagen, Camryn Maher. Back – Ava Sellner, Karly Wendinger, Makayla Strong, Lianna Kimbrough, Kenedi Wersal, Ava Kunkel.
The Roland Peterson Agriculture Education Science Fair was held on March 7, 2024 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. The Minnesota FFA Association uses this invitational as the Minnesota FFA’s Agriscience Fair. The highest-ranking FFA member or team of members with an agricultural project will advance to the national competition.
Our competitors for the Agriscience Fair competition included: Alex Confer, Keeyan Netzke, Connor Mack, John Paul Montemayor, Karter Haala, Riley Voigt, Braylon Nelson, Maddy Goldschmidt, Breanna Lopez, Brianna Ziegenhagen, Camryn Maher, Ava Sellner, Karly Wendinger, Makayla Strong, Lianna Kimbrough, Ava Kunkel, Kenedi Wersal.
The Agriscience Fair recognizes student researchers studying the application of agricultural scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. The Agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels.
Agriscience Fair Divisions:
Students can compete in the National Agriscience Fair as an individual or with a team.
- Division 1 – individual member in grades 7 and 8
- Division 2 – team of two members in grades 7 and 8
- Division 3 – individual member in grades 9 and 10
- Division 4 – team of two members in grades 9 and 10
Our students participated in the Plant Systems and Animal Systems Categories; Divisions 1-3. For the plant systems, this could include: the study of plant life cycles, classifications, functions, structures, reproduction, media and nutrients, as well as growth and cultural practices, through the study of crops, turfgrass, trees and shrubs, and/or ornamental plants. In the Animal Systems Categories this encompassed: life processes, health, nutrition, genetics, management and processing, through the study of small animals, aquaculture, livestock, dairy, horses and/or poultry.
The students did these projects as part of the curriculum for the Ag. 8 course with Mr. Hendrickx. The individuals and groups that were named in the Top 3 at state include: Division 1- Kenedi Wersal (Animal Systems), Ava Sellner (Plant Systems), and Karly Wendinger (Plant Systems). Division 2- Keeyan Netzke and Connor Mack (Plant Systems) and Breanna Lopez and Mia Davila (Plant Systems). Division 3- Alex Confer (Plant Systems). They will find out the final results on stage at the State FFA Convention in late April. One group will advance to National Competition!
To qualify for the National Agriscience Fair students must:
- Be in grades 7 – 12.
- Conduct a scientific research project pertaining to the agriculture and food science industries and present their findings to a panel of judges with a display and a report.
- Be selected as the state winner at their state Agriscience Fair.
- Be selected as one of the top 12 in their respective category and division.
The Agriscience Fair is a great opportunity for students to not only learn about research skills, but also showcase their writing and verbal communication skills to judges with the in-person presentation of their projects. Good luck to all of these individuals!