The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has recognized the winning teams in the spring 2019 Purple Plow Challenge, Protect the Pollinators. Pollinators play an important role in food production that’s essential to feeding the human population. The challenge asked students how to sustain or improve pollinator well-being. Each winning team received a 3-D printer and a $100 gift card for their class.
The following teams were selected as the winners in this national competition:
Marigold, Dreams Imagination & Gift Development Program (DIG DP)/UGA Savannah River
Ecology Lab, Simpsonville, South Carolina
Educator: Amanda Hurst
7A Pollinators, Michie Elementary School, Michie, Tennessee
Educator: Debra Steen
Bear Lake Lakers, Bear Lake School, Bear Lake, Michigan
Educator: John Pokes
Butterfly Garden, North Decatur High School, Greensburg, Indiana
Educator: Elizabeth Fry
The spring Purple Plow Challenge contest, Protect the Pollinators, ran Jan. 1 to May 1. Several factors are contributing to the disturbing global trend of shrinking pollinator populations. There are growing concerns as to what the impact will be on food production. Through this challenge, students learned about the important role pollinators play in our daily lives and how to help protect them. After thoughtful research, students designed, tested and demonstrated a solution that sustained or improved pollinator well-being.
Purple Plow is a free STEM-education platform for middle school and high school educators. Students research scenarios related to food, hunger and sustainability and build their own prototypes to solve problems. The resources – provided for facilitators, students and volunteers – are written by teachers, aligned to national learning standards and reviewed by industry experts. The next challenge will open Aug. 1.
Purple Plow is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The resources are made possible through the generous support of the title sponsor, Corteva Agriscience.
Visit the Purple Plow website for more information on Purple Plow Challenges and other free resources. Follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @ThePurplePlow.
