HOWARD — Four members of the East Knox FFA recently competed in the State Agricultural Biotechnology Career Development Event at the Ohio Department of Agriculture where they placed 17th out of a statewide field.
Team members were Ava Page, Ariel Atkinson, Jasmine Smith, and Mackenzie Wilson.
In the contest participants took an online exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions dealing with biotechnology, which allowed them to qualify for the state finals.
In the finals they completed individual activities that consisted of identifying 25 specimens of equipment and supplies presented as intact specimens, models, or high quality photographs and performed lab skills that included using a micropipette to extract a specified amount, analyzing a gel from prior research and determine results, using an electronic balance to weigh a specified amount, creating a proper label for a solution, making a solution, interpreting a gram stain and reading/interpreting an SDS for a chemical.
Teams also had to complete a team activity.
In the team activity they were given a scenario and then were given sixty minutes to research and draw conclusions for a five minute team presentation followed by questions from the judges.
This year’s subject for the team activity was a research project on soybean diseases.
The purpose of the agricultural biotechnology career development event is to encourage FFA members to explore the diversity of the Biotechnology Industry, in terms of basic knowledge, skills and applications of biotechnology to the workplace.
The areas of agricultural biotechnology have important implications for the animal, plant, food, and biotechnology industries.
The event requires students to identify materials and tools common to the industry, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and management practices applied in the industry via a written exam, and make observations, draw conclusions and make decisions in evaluating aspects of biotechnology principles.