Agfest 2024 is done and dusted and what a big few days it was
After the success of last year’s event the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture’s vegetable growing competition was back and even bigger.
This year 12 Tasmanian schools participated in the ‘Let it Grow’ vegetable growing competition, up from seven the year before.
The competition is designed to create excitement and generate interest in a career in agriculture.
This year students put their agricultural science skills into practise with the aim of growing the biggest beetroots, culminating with an official weigh-in at Agfest.
Launceston Church Grammar School took out first prize with a whopping 602 gram beetroot. They’ve won a workshop with a TIA soil scientist, a composting bundle from Subpod valued at more than $500, and a $50 voucher from Seed Freaks.
Wynyard High School grew the second biggest beetroot (426 grams) while St Marys District School was third (321 grams).
The smallest beetroot weighed just four grams.
Students spent two and a half months growing the vegetables from seeds that were donated by Tasmanian small business Seed Freaks.
There was plenty of other attractions on offer from TIA at Agfest
Patrons visiting the TIA site at the University of Tasmania Pavilion could inspect bees and flies under a microscope, complete a soil activity or ‘pot a pollinator’ where people could take home a potted seed for bees.
At the Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRETas) site patrons could find out the latest about TIA’s research projects including how to manage coddling moth and how to control oxalis.
