Yellow was the colour of the day as high school students presented their sunflowers for the official ‘Weigh In” as part of UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Sunflower Competition.
A last minute decision to bring the class to compete paid off for Nambour State High School, which was crowned Grand Champion with a sunflower weighing in at 2.083kg.
Year Nine Agricultural Science teacher Ms Courtney Hinds and her class were stunned to be named 2011 winners.
“We are so excited and still in shock,” Ms Hinds said.
“We only decided to attend last minute and the students had no idea what to expect, so to win first and third place in the Year Eight, Nine and Ten category was amazing.
“This competition is part of the students’ assessment and the curriculum, so the students have put a lot of time and effort into growing them.”
Over 220 students attended the ‘Weigh In Day’ at the UQ’s Gatton campus and participated in interactive plant science activities, and were inspired by agricultural experts, industry representatives and a current student about careers in agronomy and horticulture.
The event marked the conclusion of the 12 week Sunflower Competition where students plant sunflower seeds with the aim of growing the heaviest sunflower.
“The students loved attending the event and taking part in the activities was the perfect follow on from what they have been learning in class,” Ms Hinds said.
“The presentations got them thinking about their future and enabled them to link this assignment with the outside world and the possible programs and careers available.
“The students are now very keen to put the prize money back into improving some of the agricultural science department resources.”
The UQ Sunflower Competition is sponsored by Pacific Seeds, Australian Sunflower Association, Grains Research Foundation (GRF), Ag Force, and the Queensland Agriculture Teachers Association.
Schools that participated at the ‘Weigh in Day’ included: Oakey State High School, Dakabin State High School, Ferny Grove State High School, Goondiwindi State High School, Canterbury College, Lockyer District High School, Marymount College, Pittsworth State High School, Stanthorpe State High School, Toowoomba Grammar, Maleny State High School and Downlands College.
2011 Results:
Category -Year 8, 9 & 10
Place School Weight
1st Nambour SHS 2.083kg
2nd Stanthorpe SHS 1.530kg
3rd Nambour SHS 1.411kg
Category – Year 11 & 12
Place School Weight
1st Pittsworth SHS 1.824kg
2nd Downlands College 1.656kg
3rd Pittsworth SHS 1.623kg
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