Farm in the Classroom: Competition for Middle & High School Students – Mar 8

Posted by Millersville University on February 6, 2024

Millersville University recently received a grant from the Department of Agriculture to run a competition for middle and high school aged students.

The competition is only available for Pennsylvania Schools and Organizations.

Calling all middle school and high school students! This agriculture challenge invites you to  design, build, and test a hydroponic or aquaponic system. Hydroponics is the practice of using nutrient rich water to grow plants. Aquaponics is an extension of hydroponics that utilizes the ammonia that fish produce and converts it to something that plants can use as nutrients to grow.

The Challenge

We challenge your organization to prepare a design plan for a NEW hydroponics or aquaponics system to be constructed for less than $1500 (Level 1 or Level 2) or $2000 (Level 3-Aquaponics Division). Upon submission, design plans will be reviewed by program judges. Division winners will receive necessary funding to build systems in line with submission plans. They will also receive a team trip (up to 10 individuals per team, including one mentor) to Millersville University (MU) on Friday April 12th, 2024. Each winning team will be provided lunch at the MU dining hall and reimbursement allotment for travel at the IRS approved rate ($0.655/mi) up to 150 miles for one vehicle.

There is an optional informational Zoom meeting scheduled on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 3:30 PM.

Competition deadline is March 8, 2024.

Learn more and get access information for the informational Zoom meeting.

For the Latest competition Information, please fill out this form.