Driven by curiosity and a passion for discovery, seven members of the Tyrone Area FFA Chapter competed in the Agriscience Fair at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, showcasing months of dedication, experimentation, and research.

Seniors Paige Hoy, Frances Weaver, and junior Cassidy Fleck all earned first place in their respective categories. Senior Sarah Weakland earned second place, Evin Soellner and Madisen Jones were third, and Leanne Clark earned fourth.

Each student developed a unique project, spending countless hours testing hypotheses and analyzing results to present to a panel of judges.

The Agriscience Fair allowed participants to display their findings through detailed research papers and visually engaging presentation boards. Projects were entered into a variety of categories, including Animal Systems, Environmental Systems, Food Systems, Plant Systems, Social Systems, and Power, Structural, and Technical Systems.

Fleck competed in the Environmental Systems category.

“My project explores whether yellow onion skins can be used to create an alternative paper to traditional wood-based printer paper, helping to address rising deforestation rates,” said Fleck. “Through this project, I’ve gained valuable insight into the papermaking process and the serious environmental impact of deforestation. I plan to take my project to the next level by conducting additional trials, gathering more peer feedback, and competing in the State FFA competition to advance to the National level.”

This was Fleck’s third year competing at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. She called the experience “incredibly rewarding and an opportunity to share her research and to develop interview skills.

Senior Madisen Jones’ project examined the lasting effects of nitrate pollution on plant growth in the plant systems category.

“This project has helped me to grow as a person and pushed me beyond my limits. I have high hopes that this experiment will be eye-opening to many and spread awareness to a problem that tends to be overlooked,” said Jones. “Bringing my work to the PA Farm Show and presenting it has really given me a lot more confidence in myself and my work, but most importantly, I hope others will benefit from it and learn a thing or two that they may not have even thought about before.”

Sophomore Evin Soellner entered the competition for the first time.

“I learned that studying is very important so you don’t get lost while you’re trying to speak in front of people about your research,” said Soellner. “It was also nice to walk around the Farm Show as it was not open to the public, so I was able to see how the event was set, judging of family living items, and folks moving in animals and preparing them for the show. There is so much work that goes into a show this size.”

4th Place: Leanne Clark – Animal Systems, Division 3

1st Place: Cassidy Fleck – Environmental Systems, Division 5

2nd Place: Sarah Weakland – Environmental Systems, Division 5

3rd Place: Evin Soellner – Food Systems, Division 3

1st Place: Paige Hoy – Plant Systems, Division 5

3rd Place: Madisen Jones – Plant Systems, Division 5

1st Place: Frances Weaver – Social Systems, Division 5