Farm Progress

Beltrami 4-H team takes 1st at Science in Ag Challenge

Judges liked the team’s project on GMO education for youth.

Paula Mohr, Editor, The Farmer

July 19, 2018

3 Min Read
Photos courtesy of U-M Extension

A team of youth from Beltrami County, Minn., took home top honors in the fourth annual 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge, held June 20-21 at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus.

The 4-H team of Theresa Gustafson, Lily Krona and Haley Mouser earned first place for their research into promoting the understanding of GMOs through youth education. The group was coached by Michelle Mouser.

The 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge provides youth with hands-on learning experiences. Teams of three to five participants in sixth through 12th grade work with volunteer coaches and mentors to identify agriculture-related issues in their communities, and develop solutions for those issues. Participants then attend the statewide challenge event to present their projects. Projects are evaluated and judged, and the top three teams receive scholarship money for postsecondary education.

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SECOND PLACE: Awarded second place at the Science in Ag Challenge was a Le Sueur County, Minn., 4-H team. Pictured are Bev Durgan (left), dean of the Extension Center for Youth Development; Le Sueur County 4-H’ers Anna Prchal, Julianne Pankow and Adam Pankow; and Dorothy Freeman, associate dean, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development.

Placing second in this year’s challenge was the Le Sueur County 4-H team that worked on a project to improve nitrate testing and mitigation in local waters. Team members were Adam Pankow, Anna Prchal and Julianne Pankow. The youth were coached by Jodi Prchal.

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THIRD PLACE: Awarded third place at the Science in Ag Challenge was a team of Mower County 4-H’ers. Shown here are Bev Durgan (left), dean of the Extension Center for Youth Development; Mower County 4-Hers Megan Silbaugh, Sarah Hecimovich, Hannah Hecimovich, Ryan Van Pelt and Kaitlyn Meiergerd; and Dorothy Freeman, associate dean, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development.

Third place went to the Mower County 4-H’ers, whose project was focused on building awareness of lamb as a source of meat. Team members were Hanna Hecimovich, Sara Hecimovich, Kaitlin Meiergerd, Megan Silbaugh and Ryan Van Pelt. They were coached by Jodi Van Pelt.

Members of the first-place team each received a $1,000 college scholarship. The second-place team members received $750 each, and the third-place team received $500 each.

Six teams participated at the state event this year, according to Michael Compton, Science of Agriculture/STEM director, based in Worthington, Minn.

Community Engagement awards
There also were two Community Engagement awards given this year. The Le Sueur County 4-H team took first place, and the Beltrami County 4-H team took second.

Compton says he looks forward to expanding and revamping the program for 2018-19 to increase participation by youth across the state in both urban and rural areas.

“Evaluation results show that youth who participate develop communication, problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork skills, as well as have a greater appreciation for agriculture as a future employment opportunity,” Compton says.

To learn more about the 4-H Science in Ag Challenge, visit U-M Extension's Ag Challenge webpage.

About the Author

Paula Mohr

Editor, The Farmer

Mohr is former editor of The Farmer.

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