Watch local FFA students take on Make48-Corteva Agriscience Challenge

Behold … the future of agriculture! Among these seven Indiana FFA teams were three from Hamilton County: Heights, Fishers, and Hamilton Southeastern. (Photo provided)

Episodes premiere Dec. 18 on This Old House Makers Channel on Roku

Get ready to watch the future of agriculture as Make48 puts the focus of Indiana’s FFA students on display.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, two new episodes will be available on This Old House Makers Channel (Roku), revealing the results of the fourth Make48 competition of the season.

“National FFA is excited to be partnering with Make48 as we watch our students show their creativity and innovation,” said Christine White, chief program officer of the National FFA Organization. “We know our FFA members are the next creators, innovators, and leaders. Through Make48, our members show that talent to an even larger audience. We are excited that Make48 is making it possible for this select group of students to come together, collaborate, and create.”

Seven teams of high school students from Indiana FFA chapters participated in the 48-hour challenge sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. The competition provided a platform for FFA members to exhibit their design and critical thinking skills.

Their challenge? To construct and build interactive displays that educate the public about the diverse and positive impact of the agriculture industry.

“This is a great opportunity to share Indiana FFA with a new, global audience,” said Amanda Mullins, Indiana FFA Assistant Director for Career and Leadership Development. “This competition helped FFA members grow and brought presentation and leadership challenges to the forefront of their development. The show will both entertain, showcase our outstanding FFA members and help broaden the depth of agriculture knowledge with viewers on Dec. 18.”

Each team, consisting of three students and a team captain, engaged in a challenge that mirrors Corteva’s commitment to the theme of Agriculture Education. High schools from around the region participated. Teams included the Hamilton Heights FFA; Agricadabra (Purdue Polytechnic H.S.-Broad Ripple Campus); EH Royals (Eastern Hancock FFA); Mud Flaps (Frankton-Lapel); HSE FFA (Hamilton Southeastern); Clever Connersville FFA (Connersville) and Fishers High School FFA.

Editor’s note: We won’t completely spoil the surprise, but one of the three teams from Hamilton County won the competition and earned 1st Place for Best Innovation. You’ll have to watch the episodes to find out which school won!

“Corteva Agriscience was honored to sponsor this year’s Make48 competition in Indianapolis that involved seven Indiana FFA teams,” said Heidi Spahn, Global Corporate and Community Investment Leader at Corteva. “Corteva’s commitment to innovation and creativity aligns perfectly with Make48’s vision that allows competing teams to create groundbreaking solutions.”

To assist the teams, Make48 brought in experts to help build their ideas, create one-minute videos, and refine their pitches at Fishers Maker Playground. This state-of-the-art facility offers the tools designed for tinkering and creating without limits. Nick Snyder and his MPG team hosted the three-day event at Fishers Park.

A panel of expert judges, including Kristie Larson (DeBruce Foundation), Stephanie DeCamp (Indiana State Fair), and Shondria Seaton (Past Make48 Participant and People’s Choice Award Winner), evaluated the teams on their creativity, problem-solving skills, and presentation abilities.

“We’re thrilled to see Maker Playground and the city of Fishers showcased on Make48!” Maker Playground Manager Nick Snyder exclaimed. “Hosting this innovation competition was an incredible way to celebrate Fishers’ entrepreneurial spirit and support creative problem-solving in our community. We can’t wait to share this experience with everyone when the episode airs!”

Tune in to Roku on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to watch the FFA Make48 episodes. Here’s how:

  • Roku Users: Add the Roku Channel to your Smart TV, search for “Make48,” and click to watch. For a live viewing experience, tune in to Channel 458.
  • Samsung TV Plus Users: Find the This Old House Makers Channel on Channel 1214.
  • Amazon Fire TV Device: Roku can be installed on Amazon Fire TV streaming devices.
  • Watch it online on the Roku Channel here.
  • For more information, visit Roku support.

“Viewers can expect to see some impressive creations from the FFA teams as they highlight the importance and future of agriculture,” Make48 CEO Tom Gray said. “These young leaders demonstrated their passion and problem-solving skills, as well as bringing insights into the diverse career opportunities within the agriculture industry.”

Photos provided