Vold receives FFA Star in Agri Science
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 05/21/2012 1:24 PM
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LAMBERTON, Minn. — Minnesota FFA Star in Agri Science Skyler Vold likes bugs.
The Red Rock Central FFAer works at the French Agricultural Research in Lamberton. His responsibilities include helping to produce eight types of insects, which are used by scientists worldwide to develop better pest resistant crop varieties and pesticides.
Vold became fascinated with insects when he job shadowed his father, Thomas, at the French research facility. Thomas, one of Red Rock Central's science instructors, works at French during the summers.
Skyler started working at the facility as a freshman, he said.
French produces European corn borers by collecting egg masses from moths, incubating them to produce pupae and then raising the pupae into moths. Other insects produced include the Colorado Potato beetle, fall army worm and corn rootworm.
Strict protocol is used to produce and ship the insects. The research crew heads to Kansas and other Midwest areas to collect new insects for the coming year's production.
"The insects keep adapting," he said. "I think the work of French Agricultural Research will continue because no matter what they do to insects, the insects will keep adapting."
Vold plans to attend Bemidji State University to major in environmental science and wildlife management.
Lee and Joann French, French Agricultural Research's owners, joined Vold's parents and his FFA advisor Ron Kelsey at the FFA convention when Vold was named Star in Agri Science.
"I was quite surprised at the announcement," Vold said. "There were so many deserving of it. I didn't think I would win. I just stood there so my region FFA president had to give me a push."