Innovation on display at Minnesota 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge

June 29, 2016

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The next generation of agricultural innovators were on full display at last week’s Minnesota 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge.

A total of 14 teams participated in this year’s Challenge, which is a first-of-its-kind program created by the University of Minnesota Extension that encourages teams of youth to develop solutions to common problems facing today’s farmers. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association is a proud supporter of the Challenge.

First place went to The Hot Shots from Dakota County for a project titled “Infiniheat.” Team members developed a heated pouch to prevent essential vaccines from freezing when dairy farmers need them during the winter months.

First place in the 2016 Science of Agriculture Challenge went to a team from Dakota County. Team members include: Peter Breimhurst, John Breimhurst, Erik Lundstrom and Haakon Larson. The team is coached by Ann Lundstromand Gary Larson. Others pictured include U of M Extension Dean Dr. Bev Durgan, Associate Dean and State 4-H Director Dr. Dorothy McCargo Freeman and Cara Soukup from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. — First place in the 2016 Science of Agriculture Challenge went to a team from Dakota County.

Second place went to a project called “Where’s the Beef?” from Meeker County. These team members developed a GPS ear tag and a smartphone app that tracks the location of cattle that have gotten loose.

Members of the second place Meeker County team: Andrew Massmann, Casey Gohmann, Abbey Schiefelbein and Bailee Schiefelbein. Others pictured include U of M Extension Dean Dr. Bev Durgan, Associate Dean and State 4-H Director Dr. Dorothy McCargo Freeman and Cara Soukup from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. — Members of the second place Meeker County team: Andrew Massmann, Casey Gohmann, Abbey Schiefelbein and Bailee Schiefelbein. The team is coached by Sheri Gohmann. Others pictured include U of M Extension Dean Dr. Bev Durgan, Associate Dean and State 4-H Director Dr. Dorothy McCargo Freeman and Cara Soukup from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

Taking third place was The Clean and Green Power Team from LeSueur County with a project titled “Food Waste Issues and Possible Solutions. More details on their project can be viewed here.

Le Sueur County team members include Anna Prchal, Brian Prchal and Tyler Fromm. The team is coached by Jodi Prchal. Others pictured include U of M Extension Dean Dr. Bev Durgan, Associate Dean and State 4-H Director Dr. Dorothy McCargo Freeman and Cara Soukup from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

On behalf of Minnesota’s corn farmers, congratulations to this year’s Science of Agriculture Challenge winners and all the teams that participated. Be sure to also check out the below video from KARE 11 News about the Challenge.