DeWitt, a junior, and Rudnicki, an incoming freshman, earned their chance to be selected after winning their respective research categories and divisions during the 96th Ohio FFA Convention held in May. The two have received accolades for their work and are excited about the opportunity to connect with leaders at the competition.
Out of the 36 state winners from Ohio, only six student projects were selected to advance to the regional event, “making this a unique and prestigious opportunity for DeWitt and Rudnicki,” school officials said. “Their achievements highlight the dedication and excellence of Global Impact’s students in the field of agriscience.”
DeWitt’s research project, titled “Seed Varietal Impact on Soybean Yield,” examined four different soybean seed varieties commonly used in Ohio. His goal was to determine which seed variety produced the greatest yield to emphasize the importance of optimizing agricultural land by planting the most productive seeds.
Rudnicki’s experiment, “The Effect of Wheel Track Type on Soil Bulk Density,” used robot model tractors with various wheel and treaded track configurations to measure soil compaction. She applied a soil bulk density formula to calculate which wheel or track type resulted in the least soil compaction. Rudnicki’s project integrated her passion for mathematics with her knowledge of soil science, structure and porosity gained from her agriculture classes.
The Big E, formerly known as the Eastern States Exposition, has showcased livestock, innovative commercial, industrial and artistic developments, and varied entertainment in the Northeastern United States for over a century.
The organizations hosts 22 FFA Career and Leadership Development Events including the agriscience fair.
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