Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) understands the importance of agricultural education and recognizes that students will be the future leaders of the world. With the growing population, the agriculture industry needs motivated and passionate students to lead the next generation. Since 1994, FSNS has supported the National FFA and local associations and chapters.

FSNS strives to connect and assist students with their FFA projects. FSNS wants the students they work with to pursue their aspirations while gaining career and leadership skills through hands-on experience in the laboratory. Networking with the students not only helps spread knowledge of food safety but also builds awareness and a true understanding of what FSNS does.

Daniella Burleson, a former FFA member who FSNS worked with on her project learned the importance of food safety during her time in the lab. “I had no idea that there was so much science and work behind the products on grocery store shelves. It gave me an appreciation for our farmers, our ranchers, our food processors, our scientists, and every other hand involved in getting food from the ground to our shelves,” said Burleson. Burleson’s project researched how food processors reduce milk fat content from raw milk to skim, 1%, 2%, and whole milk. Her project, Got Milk: A Study Testing the Sonification of Fat Globules in Dairy Emulsions, won first place in the food processing category at state and second overall for food processing at nationals. She also won Grand Champion at the Houston Livestock Show and received over $4,000 in scholarships.

Coby Wellman and Hannah Taylor are the most recent FFA students that FSNS has worked with. Taylor invented a device that expands the life of fresh-cut flowers while blooming them faster and larger through aerated bacterial reduction. “Food Safety Net Services assisted my project by providing the funding and the help for bacteria, fungus and mold tests so that I could properly evaluate the effect of my invention. Through this, I could determine the types of pathogens that my invention is reducing,” said Taylor. Taylor’s device is currently in the process of being patented. Wellman’s project compared Sonication Bath and Ultraviolet Light on the Reduction of Escherichia coli. “In my research, I discovered many different machines that are suitable methods for decontamination of bacteria in agriculture and I wanted to find out which machinery would be the most effective,” said Wellman. Wellman plans to continue his research and pursue a career in food science.

FSNS’ goal is to help build the next generation of agriculturalists and scientists by supporting the goals of students through education and research. FSNS believes that FFA and similar programs are crucial to bringing students into the agriculture and food industries. Students will be integral to the success of these industries in years to come. FSNS hopes the ongoing support will continue to attract new talent and spread the importance of food safety.

For more information visit www.fsns.com.