Hold onto your hats, folks, because the Season 8 Nationals just wrapped up, and it was a weekend of motivation, innovation, and some seriously impressive skills! The competition was fierce, the energy was electric, and in the end, the EH Royals emerged as the top team, snatching the custom first-place trophy!
These incredible agriscience masterminds from Eastern Hancock FFA blew the judges away with their ingenious gardening invention designed to empower the visually impaired. We're sworn to secrecy about the specifics until the episodes drop on Roku's This Old House Makers Channel in Spring 2025 (think last week of March – mark your calendars!), but trust us, it's groundbreaking!
Teams Collaborate To Success
This victory was extra sweet for the EH Royals, considering their journey to the top. They initially competed in Fishers, IN back in May, where their prototype turned heads and landed them a spot at Nationals when the original winning team couldn't make it. Talk about a second chance!
Team captain and FFA teacher Sarah Williams, along with Silas Fredenburg (a veteran from the original team), were joined by Audrey Wooldridge-Jacobi, a last-minute addition who proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle. This dynamic trio showed us what teamwork, quick thinking, and a passion for problem-solving can achieve!
While the EH Royals took home the gold, let's give a massive round of applause to the other incredible teams who brought their A-game:
WSSB Lions: These smooth talkers from the Washington State School for the Blind snagged the "Best Pitch" award, proving that charisma and a killer presentation can go a long way! Congratulations to Eric Alaniz, Sadie Stephens, Theo Burkhalter and Clint Hanson (team captain)!
Golda Girls 2.0: Not only did they win "Best Agilities©," showing off their impressive skills and adaptability, but they also captured the hearts of the crowd (and social media!) to win the coveted Spirit Stick! A round of applause to Maya Sierra, Camilah DeLeon, Dayana Landa-Medina and Tina Gleason (team captain)!
The judges (Kristie Larson, Jon Harding, Sharrell Howard and David Marshall) had a tough time picking a winner (seriously, they were deliberating forever!), which is a testament to the incredible talent and creativity from all of the six competing teams.
Operation Breakthrough Rocked!
A huge thank you to Mary Esselman and her fantastic team for hosting an unforgettable weekend in Kansas City! The Operation Breakthrough Ignition Lab, powered by 87 & Running, was a maker's paradise, and Craig Fabin and Michael Overstreet from OB were absolute lifesavers for our tool techs.
Don't miss next week's blog for a full recap of the event! Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the action, the laughs, and the nail-biting moments that made this year's Nationals one for the books!