Britten Brandt showed no fear as he held a snake at the STEM Festival on Sunday, March 22. News Herald Photo/ Allison Graham

Young and old, male or female, there was something for everyone at the third annual Tama County Family STEM Festival. This year South Tama Elementary hosted the STEM Festival for the first time with the North Tama School District hosting in 2013 and 2014.

Local STEM Festival organizer and STC 5th Grade teacher Kris Collins described the event as a parent/school initiative aimed at putting the spotlight on specific academic areas including science, technology, engineering and math. The focus is also put towards the direct relationship these academic areas have to viable post-secondary career fields. “We know that these are high demand career fields and want to encourage children to become engaged in these areas of learning,” said Collins.

Exhibitors included: Student Role Model-Program for Women in Science and Engineering, Wartburg College, Northeast Iowa Regional Governor’s STEM Hub at UNI, Iowa Public Television, Upper Iowa University, North Tama, Pella Wildlife Company, Hawkeye Community College, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, University of Northern Iowa Science Education, Tama Police Department, Green Iowa AmeriCorps, NE IA Ironworkers Local #89 JATC, South Tama Ag Department, University of Northern Iowa Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Tama County 4-H, Nutrients for Life Foundation, University of Iowa Health Care STEM Education Programs, Belle Plaine Junior High T.A.G., American Radio Relay League, Norton’s Greenhouse, International Association of Fire Fighters (First Aid Station), Steel of Knights Robotics, University of Northern Iowa STEM, Iowa Speedway, The Iowa children’s Museum an North Tama First Lego League.

The University of Northern Iowa along with Drake University have and continue to support the STEM Festival as part of their outreach programming. This year was the first year the Tama County Festival took place at a different school in Tama County. Lisa Chizek, a teacher at North Tama, chaired and coordinated the festival planning committee comprised of educational representatives and community members from school districts throughout Tama County. That committee established the first Tama County Family STEM Festival in 2013.

“We were not sure how well the festival would do moving from school to school. Our turnout of 400 festival goers at South Tama this spring is a great sign that it indeed is something all Tama County families are interested in no matter where it is held,” said Collins.

The Iowa Speedway pace car welcomed in STEM goers on Sunday, March 22. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

This year’s STEM Festival Specialty Show featured Iowa State Fair Butter Cow Sculptor Sarah Pratt. Pratt is a graduate of South Tama and currently teaches in the West Des Moines area. The presentation included details about how she begins her plans for the sculptures. Pratt explained she begins the process well before the Fair using basic math skills and graph paper to sketch out her sculptures.

The committee will soon have a follow-up meeting to look at all the demographics and numbers from the festival, and start talking about where it will be held next year. “Supporting STEM events and learning activities inside and outside of the classroom is a great endeavor. It was so exciting to see families turnout and get involved in some fun interactive learning activities together,” said Collins

Collins believes collaborative events like the STEM Festival can add great value for families in Tama County saying, “We are so glad we could host, and it was a great deal of work and planning, but I’m proud to have been a part of a positive parent/school partnership. Tama County families are looking for these kinds of events to bring their kids to and support. They want their children to learn and grow and get connected to the wider world of learning. Tama County STEM Festival is a great way to offer this to them.”

Butter Cow Sculptor, Sarah Pratt (formerly of Toledo), was the special speaker at the 2015 STEM Festival hosted by South Tama on Sunday, March 22. Pratt discussed the science and math behind the famous State Fair Butter Cow Sculpture. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham