Iowa woman one of 4 finalists for top National FFA award in agriscience

DYERSVILLE — University of Iowa sophomore Jasmyn Hoeger is being recognized Friday as one of four finalists for a 2023 top achievement award from the National FFA Organization for her work developing an alternative treatment for livestock using UV light.

Hoeger is the only finalist in Iowa for The American Star Award in Agriscience. This week, she was interviewed by a panel of judges and one of the finalists will be selected as the winner of the award at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.

She is now studying cellular and developmental biology at the University of Iowa and lab research in the Carver College of Medicine. She was inspired by her agriscience fair research project almost four years ago as a sophomore at Beckman Catholic School, a private school in Dyersville.

Being named a finalist for this award has been a “whirlwind of amazing experiences,” Hoeger said.

Growing up on a farm, Hoeger saw firsthand the need for alternative treatments for things like ringworm, hairy warts and dehorning methods in cattle. It lead her to researching how ultraviolet radiation could help develop alternative methods as her supervised agricultural experience as a member of the Beckman Catholic FFA.

She watched her dad, brothers and the veterinarian dehorn animals on their farm and how “painful it was for animals and dangerous for farmers,” she said.

While an anesthetic is available to give to cattle while dehorning, Hoeger said it’s expensive and for that reason most farmers don’t use it. “Only 10 percent of animals being dehorned receive it,” she said.

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The last time a new dehorning method was attempted was in the 1990s — almost 30 years ago, Hoeger said she found in her research.

That’s why Hoeger wanted to research a “pain-free” treatment for dehorning. She’s used UV light on horn-producing cells, which she found stops horn-producing cell growth in a lab setting.

The next step would be animal trials, Hoeger said.

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies by completing a supervised agricultural experience, according to a news release from the National FFA Organization.

Other requirements to achieve the award include demonstrating top management skills; completing key agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements; and earning an American FFA Degree, the organization’s highest level of student accomplishment.

Now at UI, Hoeger is working in a collaborative research lab with a research scientist, Ph.D. graduate and undergraduate students.

The team is doing medical research into genetic causes of diseases and how to treat it. Hoeger is excited to be able to take the research method’s she’s learning now and apply it to animal science in the future.

“I learn something new almost every week from people who have been in the research world for more than 10 years,” she said.

Cheryl Kluesner, a research teacher and coordinator at Beckman Catholic School said Hoeger demonstrated a “determination and thoroughness” in her research of “real life problems.”

With Kluesner’s encouragement in high school, Hoeger said she “fell in love with” research.

Kluesner said Hoeger has always been a “very motivated” student who likes to challenge herself. Kluesner said Hoeger would “light up” as she researched her project.

“To hear her talk about the research she’s doing right now — the opportunity for her has been exhilarating,” Kluesner said.

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