Growing Green Challenge Winners

The Challenge

Agriculture consumes large amounts of energy in the production of our food. Farms consume energy both directly through the use of diesel, electricity, propane, natural gas and renewable fuels as well as in directly through the use of fuel in the production of fertilizers, pesticides and feedstock. In this challenge, students will learn about energy in various forms and design as well as build and share a solution that diversifies energy consumption.

Winners:

Water Wheel-Canton FFA

Canton FFA harnessed hydraulic power by using a water wheel. Hydraulic energy is a clean, renewable form of energy. The wheel was constructed using hot glue, tooth picks, tape, and spoons. One challenge the team faced was getting the wheel to spin without splashing water. To fix this, the team make the tube deeper and added a stick to hold the wheel in place. The team enjoyed testing the wheel and waiting to see how it would work.

Solar Oven- Canton FFA

Another team from Canton FFA harnessed solar energy using solar panels and a solar oven. The oven works by reflecting sunlight off aluminum foil into the oven cooking the food. The solar panels on the model farm provide the energy for pumping water to the ostriches. Constructing the solar oven was the hardest part of the process and the team re-built the oven multiple times. In the future, the team noted they would improve the solar oven to be more heat absorbent and larger. While solar energy is a cleaner form of energy, the team noted how expensive solar p

anels are which can deter people from using them.

Solar Powered Dairy Farm- Peggy Heller School

Mrs. Larios’s science classes created innovative solutions to dairy farming. Each team recognized the impact of dairy production and created an innovative solution using solar panels. The project involved using solar panels to provide energy in the barn and during the transportation of the milk. In the barn, the team created a system using solar panels to power lights and fans. Further, the team used solar panels to charge batteries that were used to transport the milk. Overall, the students were challenged by the time limit and the specific placement of the solar panels to receive the most sunlight. The students enjoyed constructing the barn and completing the project together as a team.

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