Ideas wanted for Agricultural activities for Farmers' Fair!?

Question

Every year our FFA chapter takes part in the county Farmers' Fair. This year we had the ideas of making popcorn on the cob and having an aquaculture display. It seems like drying out regular sweet corn doesn't make popcorn? That's what people are saying on yahoo, but where I work I'm almost positive they don't grow a special brand of corn for popping.

In case the corn really doesn't work, I would like to have some "back-up" plans. Does anyone have anything that would be a neat agricultural demonstration or display? Last year they did a hunting demonstration, so I don't want to repeat that. Maybe something in farming? I'm not sure, so give me some ideas please! Thank you soooo much.

If anyone does know about drying regular sweet corn, let me know? We are doing a test-run so we'll see.

Answer 1

Not knowing the dates of the competition, I am assuming your corn will be ready and productive during your time of showing. Yes, different varieties of corn are grown for the many purposes it is used for. You could grow a number of different varieties to compare them. Be aware though that they have to be kept well apart when growing or they will interbreed. So comparing and contrasting the different phenotypes and genotypes (what you "see" and what genetically you have) would be a good idea, as well as exploring how a specific hybrid is formed with detasseling of some and crossing with another to get the right expression of genes for a specific purpose. You could grow a number of large buckets spread apart from one another or even attempt the project with hydroponics. PS: Last I heard the per acre record for growing corn (deduction from a small area and extrapolated) was held by a student from Georgia. Whole lot of considerations, yes?

Answer 2

If you do corn then why not get samples of as many different corn types as possible and make a display.

I bet most people would be surprised that flint, dent, sweet and popping corn are all different and look different.

You could show dried cobs as well as samples of the corn kernels.

I bet any produce would be happy to give you a bushel of corn for people to run their hand through.

If anybody in your area grows popping corn you could likely get that too.

Answer 3

Popcorn is indeed a different strain than sweet corn, so if you don't have ears of popcorn already, that idea isn't going to fly in most of N. America (where I presume you are since you say FFA)  http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Maize

If you're looking for something made with corn that people can sample, how about parched corn? (make it with sweet corn!)

http://www.ehow.com/how_2100129_make-par...

That's an old-time recipe that makes a nutritious snack food -- I'm really surprised it's not more available.

What crops are grown in your area?  Have you talked to the state and national crop associations for those crops?

Answer 4

How much time do you have? It would be really awesome if you could train an anima lto do some tricks maybe a sheep, a chicken, or a horse or something? That would be really awesome I would luv to see it and I'm in the FFA.