John Petrovic

Early spring is science fair time in the St. Louis metro area. But, kids in Jefferson County have a unique distinction with their fair.

The Mastodon Art/Science Regional Fair of Jefferson County is the largest competition for kids in the country that mixes science and art entries.

In awards announced last month, 13-year-olds John Petrovic and Sarah Summers were among winners in the art competition. Twelve-year-old David Pottgen and 10-year-old Megan Wamser were winners in the science competition.

The fair gets its name from the Mastodon State Historic Site at Imperial, Mo. That site was established after archeologists discovered remains of pre-historic mastodons there. Mastodons were huge predecessors of today's elephants.

The first fair was held in 1979 at the Mastodon Park Museum. The fair was tiny then, with only a couple dozen entries.

But, it has grown over the years to where there are now 2,500 entries each year. That makes it the largest kids fair competition that includes both science and art. Entries are from kids, kindergarten through high school.

The fair entries covered a wide variety of both subjects.

John Petrovic is a 7th grader at St. Joseph Catholic School in Imperial. His award-winning entry in the art competition was a chrome-painted "junk sculpture." Parts included such diverse things as a sardine can and an Andy Benes bobble-head doll.

David Pottgen

When asked if his artwork will help with his future career, John said, "I don't think so."

Rather, he has plans to become a professional chef. He already does some of the cooking for his family. His favorite recipe is for Buckeyes. That's a dessert that includes peanut butter and a rich dipped chocolate coating.

John's entry got in the regional fair in a round-about way. He entered the sculpture in his local school's competition. But, his dad was a judge at the local fair and didn't feel it would be right if he awarded his own son a blue ribbon.

However, the school principal suggested John's mother submit the piece directly to the regional fair. Several of the winning entries in the Jefferson County fair were submitted directly, without going through local school competitions.

Twelve-year-old David Pottgen said his science project will have some future career value. His project tested the weight-bearing capacity of suspension and rigid-frame bridges. He made his bridges out of K'nex pieces.

The suspension bridge was able to carry the most weight without breaking.

The Fox Junior High student said his fair project helps in studies to become an architect.

He's already picked his college, Kansas State University. That's because of its good architect school and the unusual agreement with the University of Missouri.

KSU has an architecture school that serves both states so Mizzou doesn't have to have a similar school. Missouri residents get to attend KSU but pay only in-state tuition.

Sarah Summers

"It'll be cheaper for me than what my dad pays to go to Saint Louis University," David said. His father is a policeman and is taking advance classes in criminal justice at SLU.

Thirteen-year-old Sara Summers is a home-school student from High Ridge. She entered a chalk and oil pastel painting depicting hills and flowers.

She said her artwork will be useful as she tries to be an art teacher. But, she plans to teach art only part-time and also find another career that's more financially rewarding.

The 8th-grader said she has experimented with different forms of art. She's done ceramics, leather-work and string projects in addition to the drawing and painting.

She said she's kept all of her earlier work. "I have it in my room or my mother displays it around the house," she said.

Megan Wamser

Ten-year-old Megan Wamser is a 5th grader at Seckman Elementary School in Imperial. Her project grew out of an idea her sister, 12-year-old Elizabeth, tried two years ago.

Elizabeth tried to test how mold grew on different types of moistened breads. But, Megan said, "She couldn't get the mold to grow on her bread."

Megan's experiment went in a different direction. She decided to test the ability of calcium propionate to retard spoilage in breads. She said her older sister's advice on how to conduct an experiment and record data helped her succeed with her project.

For Jefferson County fair results, you can log on to www.masrf.org. For information about the Mastodon State Historic Site, visit www.mostateparks.com/mastodon.htm.