AGRICULTURE: FHS student presents paper at World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute

Fairfield High School student Hannah Clubb participated in the World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute April 29 at Iowa State University in Ames.

The FFA member presented a paper that she prepared on agricultural issues in Jamaica.

The eighth annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute brought together 304 students from 130 high schools at ISU to explore critical global food security issues and discover academic and career paths in STEM fields.

The Iowa Youth Institute has hosted participants from over 71 percent of Iowa high schools since its inaugural event in 2012 and has been referred to as the most unique and innovative event that inspires Iowa high school students to become global leaders.

'In gathering here for this event, I know that Dr. Norman Borlaug would want you to focus on the important mission of eliminating hunger around the world. It was that objective that motivated him every day of his life. It was that mission that took him from his boyhood farm in Northeast Iowa to Mexico, India, Pakistan, China, Africa, and all around the world,” said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. 'My hope for all of you is that, having been here today, you will carry with you a part of Dr. Borlaug's legacy and that as a member of the next generation of young Iowans, you will commit yourself to continue your education, build your careers, and conduct your lives focused on that goal, that unites us all and makes us so very proud to be Iowans: using the power of science and STEM to feed the world.”

This innovative experience encourages students to explore academic and career paths in fields related to STEM, agriculture and global development and aims to inspire the next generation of leaders through authentic research presentations and networking opportunities with global experts.

To participate, students identify a challenge affecting food security within a specified country and propose their own solution to address the challenge. Students then present their ideas to a roundtable of peers and experts at the Iowa Youth Institute, participate in interactive activities in labs and classrooms on campus, and connect with innovative leaders from across the state. All students who participate automatically receive a $500 scholarship to ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and are eligible to apply for the prestigious Wallace-Carver Fellowship program in partnership with the USDA. The top Iowa participants also will be selected to join scientists and policy experts from around the world at the three-day World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in October.

Since 2012, ISU has awarded over $250,000 to students participating in World Food Prize programming, ensuring that young leaders have access to a high-quality education, professional mentors, and are prepared to tackle the world's toughest issues in hunger and poverty.

'For you students who are 18 years old today, when Iowa celebrates its bicentennial in 2046 and you will be celebrating your 45th birthday, the population of our planet will have just reached 9 billion people,” said Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize. 'Whether we can nutritiously and sustainably feed all of those people is the single greatest challenge human beings have ever faced. It will be up to you to fulfill Norman Borlaug's legacy and meet this challenge.”

In 2018, the Iowa Youth Institute hosted a record participation of 309 students from 134 schools and aims to reach every school in Iowa to encourage students to pursue hunger-fighting career paths in science, technology, and policy. This one-day event is offered at no cost to teachers or students. More details are available at www.worldfoodprize.org/iowayouth.