Congratulations to the LLCC Star Dusters team, who recently won the Best In Show Innovation Award at the Plant the Moon/Mars Competition through the Institute of Competition Sciences. The competition featured teams researching, developing and testing innovative ways to grow crops on Mars.

The LLCC Star Dusters were given Martian regolith simulant and had eight weeks to grow their crop (radish microgreens) in an innovative way.  The team found additives that may enhance the water retention of the Martian regolith (which tends to be water logged on top with little water penetrating to roots).

Team members are LLCC-Litchfield students: Ann Wasylenko, Sammi Hanson, Audrey Pitman, Lexi Gaffney, Daisy Adams, Brandon Reynolds and Drew Ballhurst. They are coached by Amy Delap, LLCC-Litchfield biology instructor.