More Than A Fair Idea: 20 Years Of Science

It was actually a big year as the Glasgow Kiwanis Club marked their 20th year hosting their annual science fair. It was also the first year that the science fair was in the brand new media room for their displays.

The science fair was held over the weekend where three teams of four judges looked at the displays to see if the projects demonstrated the scientific method by comparing things in and experiment. This year 35 students presented 23 projects from fifth, sixth and eighth grade. Charles Wilson was the fair coordinator and was assisted by Sam Fallang this year.

Wilson said that this year the number of kids entered into the fair was down and they weren't sure how the science fair would take place next year with the change in schools. There could be a break from the fair next year as the schools settle in.

Keevan Sibley and Carl Zabrocki, both from the sixth grade, entered into the science fair this year with a project about testing battery brands. Zabrocki said that they came up with the project idea because they just wanted to know which one lasted longest.

"We did okay, not as much as the others, we don't like have a background and pictures (on our display)," Zabrocki said.

Sibley said that it took them a few days to complete the project. They thought that no matter what the outcome was this year, they might try their luck in the next year in the science fair. This was their first year entering into the science fair, which welcomes kids fourth through eighth grade.

Colter Cumber, also in the sixth grade had a fairly impressive project on the difference between tilled soil and non-tilled soil. He explained that his mom works for the NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) and his dad works on the ranch. He said his mom had a pretty cool job and he wanted to do something that tied in with his mom's job.

"I thought it would be cool to work in soils and plants," Cumber said. "I wanted to say I tried it and put an effort into it. I thought it'd be fun and I'm glad I did it."

He didn't win in the competition, but his project found that the tilled soil killed of organisms and that water didn't soak into the soil as well as non-tilled soil.

Winners in the fifth grade were Kate Parks in first for "nice ice," Blake Lloyd and Bergen Miller took second for their "match-got a light," and Kodi Schulz and Nora Neumiller took third for their "potato battery experiment."

Sixth grade winners were Meranda Bechel and Hannah Toavs in first for their "can bacteria eat oil stains" project, in second was Calvin Bengochea for "what wood is best in a baseball bat," and in third was Emma Miller for "goin' the distance."

The only eighth grade entry took first, Adele Chalmers with her "plant life" project.

First places received $60 in Glasgow Chamber Bucks, second took $40 and third place took $20, courtesy of Kiwanies and Frances Memorial Deaconess Hospital. The eight grade winner received $100 in Chamber Bucks. Winners will present their projects to the Kiwanis Club at East Side School on Wednesday, March 25 during lunch.

Bechel, Toavs, Parks, Lloyd, Miller, Chalmers, Schulz, Neumiller, Miller, Bailee Baxter, Elizabeth Nyquist, Kyle Stahl, Reyna Merritt, Tel Aune, Dylan Nieskins, Keeli Harris and Merceded Taylor will take their projects to compete in Havre on March 10.