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Georgia Foundation for Agriculture announces winners in 2026 Fall STEM Challenge

Georgia elementary classes in third through fifth grades were invited to enter the fall 2025 Georgia Ag Experience STEM Challenge, “Get More with Less” to put their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to work. Special education classes, homeschool groups, and community or after-school groups, along with third through fifth-grade students, participated in the fall Stem Challenge.

The statewide competition, sponsored by the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA), is part of the GFA's Georgia Ag Experience mobile classroom outreach program. Moving forward, the Georgia Ag Experience STEM Challenge will be an annual fall event.

Students explored the use of hydroponics and engaged students in designing systems that grow food using nutrient-rich water instead of soil, and household and classroom items in a limited space. As part of the challenge, students documented their observations in journals and videoed the process of designing the system and the plant growth.

First-place winners were selected in five categories: after-school and homeschool groups, special needs, third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade. The top winners received a prize package totaling $350 for their class.

3rd  Grade: Glynn County at Satilla Marsh Elementary, led by Katie Cheeks, used a variety of techniques that were well thought out, with a fun and musical presentation.

4th Grade: Coweta County at Heritage School, led by Elizabeth Lewis, used recycled materials to build their hydroponics systems and developed diagrams and detailed engineering techniques.

5th Grade: Jackson County at West Jackson Elementary, led by Emily Wibel, students used detailed research, planning, building, testing, and rethinking phases. Their research extended into water conservation and other benefits of hydroponic farming.

Special Needs: Douglas County at Bill Arp Elementary, led by Andrea McKellar developed a vertical bottle tower that grew an abundance of lettuce. The students used rockwool insulation and cotton in their systems.

Home School/After School: Henry County at Imagine the View Preparatory, led by Kaylen Cathey designed an efficient and well-thought-out method using plastic foam coolers. Their video presentation was very informative, and the design was creative.

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