The science of nature and agriculture was on display in Tyrone Area High School on Friday, December 3rd at the 2015 Tyrone Area FFA AgriScience Fair competition.  

Forty-seven presentation boards by Tyrone agriculture students with written scientific reports were presented and evaluated during the judging sessions by agricultural and educational professionals.  

Students began work in September by identifying a problem and a research question.  Next they conducted a literature review; which helped them to develop a hypothesis.  From there the students identified their dependent and independent variables and created procedures for their experimental trials.  The students generated preliminary results and displayed the data through graphs and reports.

The competition is divided into six categories, and two age groups; grade 9 and grades 10-12.  It is also split into team and individual competitions.

According to Agriculture teacher Tiffany Hoy, the categories, type of competitors and age groups are set by the National FFA Organization through their National AgriScience Fair Competition.

The topics covered by the projects were wide-ranging including food science and processing,  animal systems, plant systems, power and technology systems, environmental and natural resources systems, and social systems.

Sophomore Katelyn Richards discovered her problem while doing one of her favorite hobbies – fishing.  

In September she was fishing the Little Juniata River and realized that two streams came together just up from where she was fishing and they were two different colors.

“Mrs. Hoy had assigned us this project and I asked her if I could study why this might be occurring.  It was cool, Mrs. Hoy showed me how to use Vernier LabQuest2 machines with sensors to determine pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity of the three stream areas,” said Katelyn.

Junior Michael Cherry received the Best Overall Project Award for his work on the most common predators to wild turkey nests.  

“I started this project a year ago and when we were unable to attend the state competition last year, I decided to expand my project and run it all year.  I conducted my research different time of the year, used cameras to take clear pictures at night, and also changed they type of eggs I was using,” said Cherry.

“What amazed me the most is how students started helping other students with their projects,” said Hoy.  

Seniors Katrina Hagenbuch and Carly Crofcheck took methods learned in Mrs. Holsinger’s microbiology class and started running streak plates for other students who were studying bacteria growth in horses mouths and in animal kennels cleaned with specific cleaners.  

The middle school was also involved as teacher Stephanie McClelland brought her 5th grade class to the fair get ideas for their middle school science fair projects.  

“This is learning at its best and creates a student centered program, which is my goal. The more the students guide their learning and can share that with others, the more productive citizens they will become in the future,” said Hoy.

Judges selected the following students for special recognitions:

• Best Overall Project – Michael Cherry
• Honorable Mention Project – Carly Crofcheck
• Best Display – Isaac Woomer
• Best Interview with Most Passion – David Conrad
• Overcoming Most Fear – Jacey Whitecomb

Students who have been recommended and chose to go the State FFA AgriScience Competition will compete on Friday, January 8, 2016 at the PA Farm Show.  

The projects will remain at the PA Farm Show for the entire show.