Schools' Challenge grows at the Lincolnshire Show 07 Jul

61 primary, secondary and special schools entered this year's Lincolnshire Show Schools' Challenge, an initiative run jointly by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and the EBP, a Lincoln-based social enterprise developing the skills of young people.

Held during the Lincolnshire Show on 22 and 23 June 2016, and sponsored by Lincolnshire ADA (Drainage Board), E. Park & Sons, Farmacy PLC, Beeswax Farming, KARU Limited, Willows Garden Centre and Restaurant, schools from across the county got the chance to showcase their abilities and competed to become champions in their school category.

The exhibition hall was buzzing with activity and excitement, with more than 1,000 energy-filled Lincolnshire students chatting to the public about their projects and offering them a selection of foods to try. Businesses including the Tesco Eat Happy Project, Heritage Lincolnshire and Farming and Countryside Education (FACE), offered hands-on activities and during the day students were able to take time out to enjoy the sights and sounds of the show.

The Schools' Challenge competition has 70 entry categories and ten challenges to choose from, all linked to the curriculum and designed to develop young people's understanding of food, farming and sustainability. Schools select and research a topic, then set up a display about the project in the Showground's main exhibition hall to showcase their learning and understanding to the public.

Each category was judged by one representative from the world of education and one from the world of farming, all working to a tight schedule to decide upon their winners and admitting what a hard decision it was because of the high quality of entries. The awards were presented by Geoff Bottom, President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, and Richard Williamson from Beeswax Farming.

A new challenge for this year was 'Mission 3, 2, 1... Grow!', born out of the Principia Mission campaign's 'Rocket Science' activity, in which students cultivated and compared rocket seeds from two batches: one that had been taken to the International Space Station and back and one that has stayed on Earth. This offered schoolchildren a fantastic opportunity to engage with Tim Peake's mission.

And here are the winners:

Scampton Primary School won the Primary Small Category with their 'Mission 3, 2, 1... Grow!' project. The judges commented: "Wow! What a display and presentation. We were impressed with your research, experiments, findings and enthusiasm." Wragby Primary School won the Primary Medium Category, also with 'Mission 3, 2, 1... Grow!', with judges saying: "This group were a real credit to their school. It was an excellent presentation with a good depth of the brief."

Tall Oaks Academy Trust won the Primary Large Category with their 'Growing around the Globe' project. The judges were very impressed with their enthusiastic presentation and display.

Caistor Yarborough Academy won the Secondary Group 1 category with their 'Mission 3, 2, 1... Grow!' project and South Axholme Academy won the Secondary Group 2 category, also for 'Mission 3, 2, 1... Grow!' The judges said they did an "excellent presentation and all students were extremely knowledgeable, passionate and involved."

St Christopher's School in Lincoln won the Special School category with their 'My Community, my Commitment!' project, with the judges saying the students were "very informed".

Last but definitely not least, Rauceby CE Primary School won the 'Great Gardening Challenge', with the judges saying: "The children all expressed their individuality and were connected to the subject. A beautiful and complex design crammed with relevant ideas."

Congratulations to all of the winners and entrants on their achievements! The 2017 Lincolnshire Show will take place on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June and schools are advised to 'save the date'. To sign up to the 2017 Lincolnshire Show Schools' Challenge or to become a business sponsor call 01522 574100 and speak to Suzy Stone. Alternatively, you can email enquiries@the-ebp.co.uk or visit www.the-ebp.co.uk/potential-for-growth