Wilton Jr/Sr High School FFA advances to nationals for STEM competition
Future Farmers of America members at Wilton Junior and Senior High School are headed to a national championship for the first time in the program’s history.
The team went up against 300 schools nationwide in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. Students were challenged to create a product to help their community and beyond.
The Wilton team built a sensor that helps farmers detect grain levels from outside a container
to reduce grain bin deaths and injuries.
“It’s very cool from a small town in Iowa to make it to something this big,” said Kale Caffery, a junior at Wilton.
FFA members at Wilton Jr-Sr High School said after months of research, designs, and product testing their hard work landed them in the top 10 finalists for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition.
Olivia Sippy has coached the team for two years now. “Iowa is one of the leading states in deaths and falls from grain bins, but it is a national issue. It impacts all 50 states. Not many people may have a background in agriculture so we’re going to have to do some coaching on why this would be important and how does this impact not only Iowans but Americans as a whole,” said Sippy.
Lexi Henning, a sophomore at Wilton Jr-Sr High School, said the team’s presentation plays a major role in advancing to the top three. Henning will lead as the pitch presenter for the team. “Now we’re really working on putting our script together and figuring out what we’re going to say because we only have four minutes to give our pitch and it’s a lot to fit into those four minutes,” said Henning.
The team says they faced many challenges but believes their grain bin sensor will stand out. “The idea is that we’ll put lights on the outside and then some type of sensor on the inside that will show as we fill the bin it’ll turn on,” said Madelyn Thede, a junior on Wilton’s FFA team.
The team heads to Washington DC on April 28 to compete for a spot in the top three.
Voting is open on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow website.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
