Stillwater FFA student senior Oakley Gross, along with her partner senior Presley Watley-Kindt, Recently got first place at the national convention in Indianapolis for their agra science project. 

Gross and Watley-Kindt presented their project first at state and earned a trip to nationals, where they were announced first-place winners on stage. 

“It was really special because we had worked really hard on our project and we finally got to see all our hard work pay off,” Gross said. 

Oakley said for their project, they put E.coli on table eggs and tested how to disinfect them with hydrogen peroxide and UV lighting.They found that UV lighting and hydrogen peroxide decreases the E.coli colonies. 

Gross’s journey to the national stage in FFA started in 8th grade.

“I joined FFA and have been very active through my senior year,” Gross said.

FFA teacher sponsor Ms Kleiwer said the students’ project was advanced because they are in the older division. She said they did a great job conducting their research. 

“They were very successful at nationals so they did a great job,” Kleiwer said. “Overall, we are proud for them to represent Stillwater FFA.”

Gross said her favorite part of FFA is all the memories she has made.

“I get to spend time with my closest friends that I’ve made through this organization,” Gross said.