NFU’s Farmvention competition closes with over 1,000 entries

The competition demonstrates that farming is an excellent way of engaging children in STEM subjects (Photo: NFU Education)
The competition demonstrates that farming is an excellent way of engaging children in STEM subjects (Photo: NFU Education)

More than 1,000 entries have been submitted to the NFU’s national education competition Farmvention from hundreds of primary schools across the country.

Nine entries will be selected to present their submissions at the Houses of Parliament during British Science Week in March and one will have the opportunity to win the grand prize of their school being turned into a farm for the day.

The competition, launched in September, asked children at primary schools to submit entries that solved one of three farming-related issues using Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

This includes the tasks of designing a tractor of the future, designing an environment for a flock of 100 laying hens and designing a new snack product from four British ingredients

NFU education manager, Josh Payne said: “I am delighted to see so many entries to our first Farmvention competition and to receive more than 1,000 entries is fantastic. It’s clear that this competition has captured the imagination of primary school children and it shines through in the high quality of submissions we’ve received.

“Combining agriculture with subjects like science and technology is a brilliant way to get children thinking about food and farming and I’m looking forward to announcing the winners next week.”

The nine winners will be announced at the Association for Science Education conference at the University of Birmingham on 11 January.