How I Combined Food Science and Ag Education This Summer

The Combination of Two Worlds Leads to Perfect Harmony

 

One of my projects this summer could be summarized into Three Simple Statements

1. Determine the best method for analysis
2. Begin the analysis and determine the best route or action
3. Find a way to pass this information on so the analysis can continue after you 

What did this all mean?

Determining the Best Method for Analysis

This aspect of my project had me taking the lessons I learned in the Food Science Class room to develop a Standard Operating Procedure which I could follow to collect, test, and analyze my project. This also required me to give daily updates on the project to many people in the management chain which has changed my interactions with them to more of a member of the team. An S.O.P. as they are referred to also help keep tests reliable by making them repeatable.  Its like the rule of three students follow in doing science experiments, repeatably makes the results much more reliable as accurate.

So I got to create an SOP which needed to be something that someone that has no background will understand. This experience was like me writing lesson plans that a substitute teacher could take from me when I am sick for a day.  This was pretty cool because this required me to research things and try to figure out like how am I going to test as well as how am I going to keep records.  I learned its more than just pen and paper here at the plant you need to save it in a place that is accessible for others as well.

Beginning the Analysis and Identifying Best Routes and Actions

This part by far felt like the part of my project that took the longest. I think in part because my project wasn't as simple as preform a test every so many minutes. My project required me to gather data points a specific points in the day which in this plant we never the same times.  This meant I had to be on top of my project and ready to run a third or fourth test in need be.

By me doing that for my project though I got to learn a lot about time management and learned where there were some problems in my testing method.  For example I began to see where my tests began to overlap others tests which were also preformed during the operational day. I began to see how instead of adding work I can begin to combine work already done to achieve better results.

I began to learn a lot as well just about the production side of things. My project got me interacting with individuals outside of my daily day to day interactions and with that I began to learn more and more about the production of food. I learned that problems in the end product of the food could be cause by things in the formulating and cooking steps.  The knowledge I gained was tremendous to me better understanding my project as a whole.

 Passing the Information On

Finally comes the final part of my project.  This is by far the best part. Here I have to teach others how to do my project.  See my project wasn't like a test this method over another. My had real life application and long term application in the plant.  SO to ensure long term success I had to put on my Ag Teacher hat and come up with an informative meeting explaining how to best have my project continue.  

That has been the best part total. I get to work on helping out seeing this project continue. Being able to effectively explain procedures and have them explained perfectly are key points in education and they are key points in the plant as well.  This was probably my favorite part because I was able to teach people what needed to be done in my project. 

This is why this has been an awesome summer. I can't wait to see what my next and final week is going to be like. I am super excited.

To Be Continued . . .