Tasmanian school students are invited to put their agricultural science skills to the test in a competition to grow the largest radish and learn about soil health through the ‘soil your undies’ challenge.
Applications for the 2025 Let it Grow vegetable growing competition have opened on 7 November 2024. Participating schools have the chance to win prizes valued at over $1,400 and the opportunity to have scientists specialising in soils and insects deliver a workshop at their school.
The annual competition is hosted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) with the goal of sparking interest and creating excitement about careers in agriculture.
Dr Bianca Deans, TIA Education and Work Integrated Learning Officer, said the competition provides schools with a simple hands-on learning experience centred around agricultural science.
“Schools that participate in the 2025 Let it Grow competition will receive a packet of black radish seeds along with a pair of 100 percent cotton undies,” Dr Deans said.
“Not only will students be applying their agricultural science skills to grow the largest vegetable, but they’ll also be exploring soil health by burying a pair of undies in the veggie patch for eight weeks.
“It sounds a bit bizarre, but the ‘soil your undies challenge’ is a fun way to discover how healthy your soil is. If the undies are mostly degraded when you dig them up after eight weeks, that’s an indication the soil has good biological activity including microbes that can support healthy soil.”
The Let it Grow competition runs from February until May 2025 and will conclude with an official radish weigh-in and awards ceremony at Agfest.
“By increasing awareness and engagement with agriculture and food industries, we hope to inspire students to pursue educational pathways and careers in these fields, addressing skill shortages and promoting sustainable agricultural practices for future generations,” Dr Deans said.
The competition is made possible thanks to prizes generously donated by the TAS Farm Innovation Hub, Horticultural and Landscape Supplies (HALS) and Seed Freaks.
Schools can express interest in next year’s Let it Grow competition until 13 December 2024.