Plant & Soil Science

In this project, you will learn about different crops grown locally, regionally, and nationally to feed our world. The focus is on crop growth, diseases, and pests impacting agriculture production. This is your chance to learn about crops—corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, and rye—from seed to harvest and discover career opportunities.

Growing food, flowers, fruit, and herbs is gardening. Horticulture, the science of growing, helps us understand what we grow, how and where to grow it, and more. Youth in this project may choose to grow plants to eat, plants to enjoy, or both. Older youth may explore hydroponics, the science of growing plants without soil.

Indoor plants add beauty and design to any space. Learn about indoor plant varieties and propagation suitable for your home environment. Youth may explore flowering and non-flowering plants.

Plants can produce food for your family and add beauty to the earth’s landscape or your bedroom. Discover landscaping plants and design fundamentals to create a functional and beautiful environment year-round.

Bouquets, corsages, and centerpieces. Cut flowers, dried flowers, or other plants. Plant crafts such as flower arranging, pressed flowers, evergreen arrangements, and more can add beauty to a room, an event, or someone’s day. Youth in this project will explore ways to be creative with plants.

Soil is more than just “dirt.” Soil is alive with plants and animal life. In the Soil Science project, grow your understanding of soil types, what plants need, and how seeds grow into plants. Then go further to explore how you can support the soil by keeping it healthy and preventing soil erosion.