In another life, I would have been a middle school science teacher.

I’ve had opportunities to visit classrooms and talk with students about agriculture. I enjoy my time with them and exploring those "why" and "how" questions from inquisitive young minds.

For more than a decade, I’ve served as a volunteer judge at the Anoka-Hennepin School District K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Fair. The district has been hosting these since the late 1960s. The most recent event was Jan. 21, at Blaine High School. Hundreds of middle school and high school youth participated.

Just as 4-H and FFA do, the science fair provides an opportunity for students to showcase their inquiry skills and creative genius. The fair also give students the opportunity to practice and improve public speaking skills, and interact with judges.

I know some students are required to pull science projects together for a class grade. And some are probably there because parents pushed them to participate.

I can relate to the latter. After I became involved in the science fair as a volunteer, I saw what an enriching experience it was. I "encouraged" our youngest daughter to find a subject and to work on a project. This happened during her middle school years. Even though there were times when she needed some nudging, she saw each project through to completion and attended the district fair three years in a row. Twice she took her projects to the regional science fair in St. Cloud. That trip to the regional fair paid off one year, as her project was selected to go onto the state science fair in St. Paul. She liked that — not only for the recognition, but that she also got out of school for a day to go!

You never know what might "stick" with these young students as they grow and explore career options. Again, I point to my youngest, now a senior in college. When she started as a freshman, she wanted to major in graphic design. She still needed to take a science class, so she signed up for a biotech class. She loved it and ended up taking additional biotech courses, thinking she would work on an associate degree in that field. Well, she is doing that, plus she switched majors — to biology. And now she is talking about a master’s degree in science.