Agriscience Research Projects in Agricultural Education

1. Dr. Gaea Hock, Agricultural Education, Kansas State University Laura Miller, FFA Agriscience Guru, Junction City High School

2.  Agriscience Research Project  Inquiry-based method for teaching scientific method  May or may NOT include formal report, poster or evaluation outside of classroom  Could be presented at Agriscience Fair, used for SAE  FFA Agriscience Research Fair  Competition used to evaluate design of experiment through report, conference judging and poster  State Convention and State Fair  Could qualify for national competition  Agriscience Research SAE/Proficiency Area  Used to accumulate hours towards State Degree or Proficiency Awards  Often multi-year or multi-cycle projects involving student in all aspects of project  Does NOT require participation in research fair for eligibility

4.  Conduct an agriculturally related experiment using the scientific method.  Categories  Animal Systems  Plant Systems  Social Systems  Food Products and Processing Systems  Power, Structural and Technical Systems  Environmental Systems/Natural Resource Systems  Divisions  1 – Individual member, grade 7-8  2 – Two member team, grade 7-8  3 – Individual member, grade 9-10  4 – Two member team, grade 9-10  5 – Individual member, grade 11-12  6 – Two member team, grade 11-12

5. • Consult the handbook • Ask Questions! • Contact state coordinator and/or national staff • Science Teacher • K-State faculty/students • Check the category to make sure you are in the right area • Follow the rubrics • Manuscript Matters! • Use the template provided online • Use APA style • Check grammar and spelling • Cite sources • Pay attention to the rubric • Have someone else read it • Double check all required forms are included • Using AET for the submission process

6. Managing Outcomes • Do not change your hypothesis Do not omit evidence that is for or against your hypothesis If the outcome is different than the hypothesis, suggest why State what could/should happen next Displaying your results • Be creative and organized Do not clutter/keep it simple Use relevant photos and simple, correct captions (50 words or less) Remember: Display is less than 10% of the total project score There are suggested templates for the written report and poster design available on FFA.org or email Dr. Hock • • • • • • • • • *Consider virtual viewing of the poster when designing •

7. Interviewing tips Practice! …with a variety of people. Prepare Relax Smile Firm handshake Tell the story fully Don’t make the judge drag it out of you. • Interviewing tips - VIRTUAL Practice! Technology issues are a big distraction Consider the surroundings Sit up (or stand up) straight Use the poster to help tell the story Share your screen so the judge can see the poster • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

8.  Make sure the project is in the correct category  If not sure, complete a category determination request  Follow the rubric  Work to not have any question regarding who did the work  Acknowledgements  Citations  Extension Project  Students can do the project “again” but the variables must be different  Must complete paperwork detailing the extension  Only if the project made it to Nationals the year before  Timeline  Must complete research in one year  The data has to come from the “academic year” the student is competing in

9. Research: Involves planning and conducting an agricultural-based scientific experiment based on hypothesis and the use of the scientific methods of investigation on the hypothesis. This may include qualitative, quantitative, experimental, descriptive and quasi-experimental research.

11.  Agriscience Research Proficiency Awards are designed for those students actively engaged in agriscience research and experimentation.  This includes members who are actively engaged in doing their own research individually or who may be cooperating on research projects with others including but not limited to teams in school, experiment stations or colleges/universities.  The applicant must be actively involved in the development of the experimental design, formulation of the hypothesis, collection of data, interpretation of the data and publicizing the results to be considered for an Agriscience Research Proficiency Award.

12.  Agriscience Research-Animal Systems- Research in the life processes, health, nutrition, genetics, management and processing of animal systems related to small animals, aquaculture, livestock, dairy, horses and/or poultry.  Agriscience Research Plant Systems – Research in the lifecycles, classifications, functions, practices of plant systems related to crops, turf grass, trees and shrubs and/or ornamental plants.  Agriscience Research Integrated Systems -Must fit one of the following descriptions:  Diversified Research– Research in two or more of the agriscience research areas.  Environmental Service Systems/Natural Resource Systems Research- Research in the systems, instruments and technology used in environmental service and/or natural resources and their influence on the environment.  Food Products and Processing Systems Research- Research in the product development, quality assurance, food safety, production, sales and service, regulation and compliance, and food service practices within the food industry.  Power, Structural and Technical Systems Research- Research in the agricultural equipment, power systems, alternative fuel sources and precision technology, as well as woodworking, metalworking, welding and project planning for agricultural structures.  Social Sciences Research- Research of leadership, personal growth and career success skills necessary for a chosen profession that effectively contributes to society.

13. Establishing clear guidelines, expectations and managing student projects.

14. Bring the Hype; Experience Counts Make it Relevant Make Edgy/Out of the Box Keep it Simple Step By Step Planning Forms/Links in Resources

15.  Fall Semester  1) SAE Unit –  Emphasize Research SAE  2) Scientific Method Unit –  Emphasize Process of Research  3) Project Proposal Final –  Design Project, Present Plan & Apply for Grant Agriscience Student Semester Project, 9 – 10 grade  Spring Semester  4) Record Keeping Unit –  Setting Up AET Profile OR Other Record Keeping System  5) Data Analysis/Technical Writing Unit –  Analyze data, create tables/figures and write report  6) Project Results Presentation Final –  Create display, submit report and grant funding report  Disclaimer: Other units are taught in addition to these, but content in included units is directly tied into the agriscience research projects

16.  Timeline  August –  Welcome back letter addressing SAEs with signed copy of expectations for projects  September –  FFA Open House display of past projects  October/November –  P/T Conferences to Discuss Projects  SAE Unit  Scientific Method  December –  Project Discovery & Proposal Final  Project may begin during Christmas Break  January –  Record Keeping Unit  Timeline  March (after spring break)–  Project Data Due  April -  Data Analysis / Technical Writing  Submit Award Worthy Applications (Manuscripts) to state Agriscience Fair  May -  Project Results Final  Agriscience Fair @ State Convention  July -  Submit Projects to National FFA for consideration  September -  Agriscience Fair @ State Fair  October –  National FFA competition at Convention

17. Do’s Don’t  Allow students the opportunity to pick something they are passionate about  Forget to keep parents informed and involved  Keep their own abilities and sound scientific data collection in mind  Welding projects  Harm to animals  Skip instructional steps:  Scientific method: Variables, Procedures  Analyzing Data  Create multiple check-points throughout ‘data collection’ period  Be afraid of failure in picking a project (or completing the project)

18.  Animal Systems  Does a Rooster Really Increase Egg Production?**  Do Heifer’s Grow Faster than Steers?  Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Different Live Traps for Raccoons and Opossums.  Growth Rate Differences Between Holstein and Sim-Angus Heifers**  What is the Most Effective Bait to Use When Trapping Raccoons?  Evaluating Swine Performance Data in Purebred and Crossbred Swine**  Lamb Growth: Does Diet Impact Fall Born Lamb Growth Performance?*  Comparing Calf Growth: Will Calves Growth Faster on Wheat Grass Pasture than Bunk-Fed Calves on a Similar Diet?  Plant Systems  Evaluating the Ideal Amount of Precipitation Needed to Grow Paper White Lilies  Soil Quality: Does Soil Type (from the same farm) Vary Enough to impact Sunflower Growth?  Evaluating Cover Crops in a Controlled Environment: Species and Density on Canopy Coverage**

19.  Food Products and Processing Systems  Does the Translucency Test for Measuring Fat Content in Food Really Work?  Nutrient Differences between Fresh and Frozen Food Products  Comparing Cookie Characteristics: ‘Healthy’ versus the Original Recipe  Determining the effectiveness of hand sanitizer as a hand washing alternative  Power, Structural and Technical Systems  Comparing Welding Processes for Use in Small Farm Settings**  Comparing Weld Strengths Between ARC and MIG Welders  Determining if Wool is a sustainable insulation alternative  Environmental Systems/Natural Resource Systems  Water Quality in Feedlot Pens: How Often Should Automatic Waterers Be Cleaned?  Vermiculture: Can Worms Really Improve the Soil Quality?**  Comparing Water Quality in Horse Tanks When Gold Fish are Added.**

20. Social Sciences:  Determining Barriers of Agricultural Education Enrollment  Determining the Effectiveness of the School Lunch Program  Determining the Attitudes and Perceptions of Single-use Plastics on the Environment  Determining Attitudes and Perceptions of Industrial Hemp Production  Determining Attitudes and Perceptions of Milk vs. Milk Alternatives

22.  FFA Educators Agriscience Research Lessons & Resources:  SAE for ALL Website:  FFA Agriscience Handbook:  CASE Agricultural Research Design Curriculum (Certification Available)  Agriscience Fair Interest Form (Microsoft Forms):  Agriscience Research Forms: (Microsoft Forms)  Research Question Form  Creating a Hypothesis or Objective  Background Research  Methods & Setup  Data Collection & Results  The Final Product SARE How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch  Scribbr  Good Calculators (Online Calculators for Data Analysis)  Google Scholar

23. LauraMiller@usd475.org ghock@ksu.edu