Business & Tech

Alstede Honors Chester Science Fair Winners

Agricultural achievement awards given to Dylan Baker, Oliva Hyde, Emma Gugliemini and Gabrielle Hamilton.

Special Agricultural Achievement Awards sponsored by Alstede Farms and the Alstede Family were handed out at the Chester Science Fair, held at the Black River Middle School on March 2. Capturing the awards were Dylan Baker for his project entitled Fertilizer Mania; Olive Hyde for the Best Method for Eradicating Stink Bugs; and the team of Emma Gugliemini and Gabrielle Hamilton for their Plant Palooza. Alstede Farms Farm Steward, Sam Walmer presented the winners with a certificate, ribbon and an Ertl 1/16th scale replica of a vintage John Deere Tractor.

The Chester Science Fair is open to any K-8 student living in the Chesters and more than 500 children participated. The Special Awards are given out separately from the blue ribbons and medals that the regular Science Fair judges award and are sponsored and judged separately by Alstede Farms.

Students competing for the Alstede Farms Agricultural Achievement Award (4-A) were required to prepare projects judged utilizing the following criteria:

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  • Demonstration of alternative methods for growing food and fiber
  • Demonstration of manipulation of plant growing conditions to improve productivity
  • Demonstration of responsible care of natural resources in the production of food and fiber
  • Demonstration of the impact of insects and disease on the production of food and fiber.

Projects were evaluated on their use of the scientific method and their originality.

Dylan’s project Fertilizer Mania tested mixing different recycling, household materials in soil and the impact on the ability for plants to grow. Olivia Hyde project examined the various methods for eliminating stink bugs, a pest that bothers not only farmers but all residents. And Emma Gugliemini and Gabrielle Hamilton gave a great presentation on growing plants through different color filters and the affect these filters had on the growth rate of the plants.

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“It was difficult to decide whose project was the best,” Walmer said. “All of the presentations were extremely well done. The entrants should be proud of all of their hard work.”


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