Agriscience Star

It’s been a long time coming but Tessa Tauke finally realized “completing” a project that began when she was in the eighth grade.

The first-year DVM student was recently named the winner of the 2026 American Star in Agriscience award presented by the National FFA. This is one of the highest honors in the national organization and is given annually to an FFA member who demonstrates outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through completion of supervised agriculture experiences (SAE).

An SAE allows students to learn by doing, by owning or operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agricultural-based business, or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting results.

“My first project was in the eighth grade and I completed an agriscience research project each year until I graduated,” Tauke said.

For her first project, she looked at the impacts of temperature and surface variability on the adhesive properties of tape while a member of the Beckman Catholic FFA Chapter in Dyersville, Iowa.

“I tested different brands and types of tape across different temperature and surfaces,” Tauke said. “It was a pretty simple idea, but I loved that I could take something I was curious about, develop a question, design an experiment and actually find an answer.”

Tauke’s other projects ranged from the safety of livestock trailers and the electrical connections for lights and brakes to learning about a natural chemical produced by black walnut trees. She also looked to better understand how much ultraviolent light exposure could occur during welding and how different types of protective equipment affected that exposure.

Her final project focused on her curiosity towards animal health which led to researching natural remedies and eventually comparing essential oil treatments as a potential alternative approach for managing bovine ringworm in an in vitro study.

At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be a common denominator among Tauke’s projects.

She would definitely disagree.

“There has always been a common thread in my research projects,” she said. “Something catches my attention, usually working on my family farm.

“I want to know why it happens or if there is a better way to do something.”

The idea for her eighth-grade project came from observing her dad using duct tape for quick repairs on the farm. Other projects were developed from showing cattle, walking past a black walnut tree on her farm, her brother’s welding business, and learning about folk remedies.

Completing her projects wasn’t Tauke’s only involvement with her FFA chapter. She competed in countless contests and served in a multitude of officer positions not only for her local chapter but at the district level as well.

Tauke completed and won three proficiencies at the state FFA level in agricultural research-integrated systems, agricultural research-plant systems, and veterinary science placement.

Her interest in research didn’t end when she completed these five projects. While a student at Iowa State, Tauke continued researching at the Iowa State Dairy Farm, the USDA and the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.

Despite all these experiences, Tauke never for a moment believed she would be a finalist for the American Star in Agriscience award.

“I’ve learned so many things through my projects that simply couldn’t be replicated in a classroom,” she said. “I’ve learned how to weld, wire electrical connectors, work with plants, culture ringworm, troubleshoot experiments, and be hands-on with problems I actually encountered.

“Each project had their individual challenges and while it’s hard to pick a favorite, my senior year project with bovine ringworm is what got me involved with my local vet clinic, and brought me into the field of veterinary medicine.”

October 2026