Promoting Excellence in AgriScience
Teams of two female students will be eligible to receive $250 each by participating in the Illinois FFA AgriScience Fair during the Illinois FFA State Convention in June. Student projects will be judged during the science fair and additional judging will determine the top two female teams for the award. Additionally, the winning teams will be partnered with professionals for career exploration through a tour and interactions with female leaders in the agriculture industry as related to their project or future plans.
For more information about the Illinois FFA AgriScience Fair, visit this link.
2026 Illinois FFA AgriScience Fair Winners
Salt Fork FFA
Lainey Ehler and Lucy DeAth
This experiment evaluated cow, goat, and chicken manure to determine which animal waste product was the most effective sustainable fertilizer for increasing radish yield. Four equal plots were established, including a control plot with no fertilizer, and all plots received the same radish variety, watering schedule, sunlight exposure, and growing conditions. Throughout the experiment, plant growth and development were monitored and recorded. Results showed that all fertilizer treatments improved plant health and production compared to the control plot. Chicken manure produced the highest overall yield and strongest plant growth, while goat manure also showed positive results. Cow manure produced the fewest radishes but resulted in the largest individual radish. Overall, the study demonstrated that animal waste fertilizers can be an effective and sustainable alternative to commercial fertilizers, with chicken manure providing the greatest benefit to radish production.
Stark County FFA
Taylor Price and Darilis Knobloch
This project studied whether UV-C light could reduce harmful bacteria in cattle manure and runoff water. Manure and water samples were collected from a beef cattle farm and tested for E. coli and Listeria spp. Samples were either treated with UV-C light or left untreated as a control. After treatment, bacterial growth was measured and compared. UV-C light reduced both types of bacteria, but it worked better in runoff water than in solid manure. The results show that UV-C light could be used as an additional tool for managing cattle manure, reducing harmful bacteria, improving farm biosecurity, and supporting safer livestock production.
