4-H and FFA youth get down to business at Grow-NY

Supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University’s New York Agriculture in the Classroom, New York State 4-H and New York Future Farmers of America, youth competition finalists spent the morning refining presentations before stepping onstage and into the spotlight.

“Young people have ideas for tackling the world’s biggest problems, and this competition gives them a platform to share business solutions on a big stage,” said Alexa Maile, director of New York State 4-H.

First place was awarded to Nate de Jong, a 4-Her from Erie County. His project, Soil Elevated, featured a digital platform to help users understand and improve soil health. “When my garden failed due to poor soil nutrients, it motivated me to learn more about soil and create this platform to help anyone maximize yields,” he told the judges. 

Second-place ($500) went to FFA member Mason Hill for expanding a Lowline Angus herd to advance sustainable beef production. CCE Broome County 4-Her Annaleen Aukema won a third-place prize of $250 for her freeze-dried pet food venture.

Other projects ranged from a biodegradable straw prototype to a digital platform for soil health, reflecting hands-on learning and a commitment to solving real-world challenges. A team from Baldwin High School in Nassau County drew inspiration from Aztec chinampas—floating islands of fertile land—to address water purification in Long Island Sound.

“By using eco-bricks and PLA plastic from our 3D printing, we can build a modern chinampa system that revitalizes local plant life and repurposes plastic waste across our community,” said team member Sanya Halyard.

Damali Wynter, assistant commissioner for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, who served as a judge for the youth competition, said the event provides a glimpse into the future of agriculture entrepreneurship. “Agriculture goes far beyond pitchforks and overalls,” she said. “This youth competition shows its many applications and the excitement they inspire.”