Tennessee FFA Agriscience Fair CDE Chaney Mosley Tennessee FFA Executive Secretary July 2011

Objectives Overview of the Agriscience Fair Rules of the Agriscience Fair Information About the Competition Agriscience Fair Project Display Logbook Project Final Report Tips for Teaching

What is the Agriscience Fair? Opportunity to explore an area of interest in agriculture Enhances SAE (good for STAR applicants and proficiency applications) Academic integration Teaches problem solving and critical thinking Recognizes students for scientific exploration Promotes career success

Research Based Project Categories include: Animal Systems Environmental Service Systems / Natural Resource Systems Food Products and Processing Systems Plant Systems Power, Structural and Technical Systems Social Sciences Divisions: Division I: individual students 7th - 9th Division II: individual students 10th - 12th Division III: teams of two members 7th - 9th Division IV: teams of two members 10th - 12th Participation in the same category and division over multiple years will be allowed. Must document research is a continuation of past research presented

Project Must Use Scientific Method

Display May consist of one or more panels Must be stable & free standing Max size = 48” wide x 30” deep x 108” high from the floor

Display Upper right hand corner must have Name of student(s) Chapter Name Title of Category Division (I - IV)

Winning Display Conduct multiple trials One trial may not be enough to draw a conclusion Attempt at least three trials Prepare a display to give your audience a quick overview of The question you asked, the method you used, the result you got, and the conclusion you came to Create charts, diagrams or illustrations to explain your question, methods and results A neat and organized poster will obviously communicate your work better than a sloppy, disorganized poster

Include within Display Demonstration Materials Items that illustrate a scientific principle, equipment or materials used, or enable others to retrace your steps ”Hands-on" will make an exhibit more interesting and help others understand your discovery Use photographs to illustrate your work if your experiment involves valuable equipment or animals & dangerous chemicals that are not allowed Log Book (see handout) Project Report (see handout)

Getting Started Selecting a Research Topic Choose a topic of interest Realistic (student abilities, knowledge, resources and time) Select topic matches closely to SAE Seek a topic that can be expanded National winning projects (long term 2-3 year with performed replications & more data collection)

Tips for Teaching Require students to complete an agriscience fair project as a classroom assignment Conduct a school wide Agriscience Fair Have science teachers judge projects using the agriscience fair scoring rubric…then ask them for suggestions Give prizes (ribbons, t-shirts, money, certificates, etc) Display completed projects throughout school Do not allow freshmen to pair up with 10th – 12th grade students Find community contacts who can/will help students with projects Veterinarians Hospital laboratories Horticulturists Mechanics Relate projects to student SAEs Add this information to proficiency award applications

What Does A Local Agriscience Fair Look Like? The quality of projects will vary Some students will go above and beyond Use the local agriscience fair as a state qualifier

Questions?

Let’s Complete A Project Break Into Groups Distribute Supplies Provide Direction Complete Projects Judge