VS FFA member Wes Haefner presents at World Food Prize forum
Last Monday, the sixth annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute brought together 299 students from 131 high schools, including Vinton-Shellsburg, at Iowa State University to explore critical issues related to global food security and discover academic and career paths in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The Iowa Youth Institute has now reached over 64 percent of all Iowa high schools since its inauguration in 2011, and has been referred to as the most unique and innovative event to inspire Iowa high school students to focus on global issues and opportunities in STEM. Mentored by Melissa Heeren one student from Vinton-Shellsburg High School FFA participated this year. Wes Haefner researched education in Madagascar. Wes shared his paper during round tables with other students and experts, then went on to a session on ISU campus about Iowa agriculture and was able to create a type of biodiesel in a Gatorade bottle. About the event Governor Terry Branstad, as the luncheon speaker, spoke to the students about the importance of feeding the growing population. “I truly believe that there just may be one of you here today who will be able to follow in Norman Borlaug’s footsteps, who will make a similar breakthrough achievement, one that will help us meet the challenge of feeding the 9 billion people who will soon be on our planet. For you students,...
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