A few weeks later, we’re still excited about what we saw at the 2026 Hamilton County Soils Contest at Conner Prairie. 🌱 More than 100 students put their skills to work through hands-on soil science—observing, analyzing, problem-solving and learning more about one of our most important natural resources. Congratulations to all of the students who competed, including Indian Creek 1, the first-place overall team, and Taylor Ennis, the first-place overall individual! Days like this are an exciting glimpse into the future of Conner Prairie’s Food, Farm, and Energy Experience (FFEE) and the opportunities it can create to connect students with agriculture, science and potential careers. Thank you again to the educators, partners and sponsors who helped make the day possible! #FoodFarmAndEnergy #FFA #AgricultureEducation #STEMEducation #SoilScience #ConnerPrairie
🌱 What happens when you put more than 100 students, soils, and a little competition together? You get an incredible glimpse of what the future holds for both these students and the future Conner Prairie Food, Farm, and Energy Experience (FFEE). Last week, I had the opportunity to see that future firsthand as more than 100 students from seven Indiana counties came together for a soils competition. They weren't just answering questions about soil. They were observing, analyzing, identifying, problem-solving, and applying science to something that is literally beneath our feet. I believe in creating opportunities where young people can move beyond learning about science and agriculture and actually experience it. What I saw during this competition is the kind of energy we want to cultivate through FFEE: curiosity, discovery, collaboration, and a willingness to ask “Why?” This type of learning becomes something they remember. A huge thank you to Samuel Lawrence from Fishers High School and Chris Kaufman from Westfield High School for helping plan and make this competition happen. Your commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students is exactly the kind of partnership that makes programs like this possible. This competition was more than a day of digging in the soil. To me, it was a glimpse of what is possible when we bring students, educators, agriculture, science, and community together. And we're just getting started. The future of food, farming, and energy is going to require people who are curious, creative, scientifically minded, and willing to tackle complex challenges. I want FFEE to be a place where people start discovering their potential and experience possible careers firsthand. 🌱🔬🌾 Thank you to the following schools for participating: North Montgomery High School Southern Wells Jr Sr High Cascade Senior High School Westfield High School Fishers High School Hamilton Heights High School Indian Creek Sr High School Northeastern High School Blue River Valley Junior-Senior High School Hagerstown High School #FoodFarmAndEnergy #FFA #AgricultureEducation #STEMEducation #SoilScience #IndianaAgriculture #ExperientialLearning #FutureOfAgriculture #ScienceEducation