The 44th annual Mastodon Art and Science Fair will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 23-25, in the Field House on the Jefferson College campus in Hillsboro.
Judging is already underway for registered projects, and a public project viewing will be available during the judging/scholarship interview process from 4-7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Field House. Judging and interviews continue on Friday, but that is closed to the public.
The public also is invited to the Family Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Field House. Admission and parking are free.
“We’re growing again,” said Samantha DeClue, the executive director since 2018. “We had about 220 students last year, and we already are in the low 260s (for this year). We also have more adult participation this year.”
Student opportunities
The fair is an opportunity for art and science students throughout the area to showcase their projects and to compete for awards and scholarships.
The fair is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade in public or private school, as well as to homeschooled students.
Adults may enter projects in the fair, too.
Both individual and group projects may be entered.
Middle school and high school students from the Missouri counties of Jefferson, St. Louis, Washington, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Callaway, Crawford, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Maries, Osage and Phelps, and the Illinois counties of Brown, Jackson, Perry and Randolph who qualify are eligible to move on to national-level competition.
Projects will be open for viewing during the Family Expo on Saturday, which also will feature a number of exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
The fair closes with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m.
“Both art and science projects are divided according to grades on the elementary school level,” DeClue said. “First through third place gets a medal and fourth place gets a ribbon. For the high school division, there are also cash prizes. The top three science projects get $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third.
“ In the art category, it is divided into portfolio and floor projects. For portfolio, first place is $750, second $500 and third $250, and then floor is $100, $75 and $50.”
The top science project is also eligible to take part in the International Science and Engineering Fair competition scheduled for May 14-19 in Dallas, Texas.
“We cannot afford to send our kids to that, to pay for their travel. I wish we could,” DeClue said. “We pay for the ISEF membership so they can go to that and other competitions.”
Projects and portfolios are available for pick-up immediately at the conclusion of the awards ceremony, unless other plans have been made in advance.
“The Mastodon Fair Historic Site always displays some of the art and science projects during April,” DeClue said. “And new this year, the Festus Public Library is going to display some of the projects in the coming weeks.”
Expo fun
The Family Expo will focus on interactive activities.
“We have three vendors, and we’ll have hands-on activities to go with each one,” Mastodon Fair secretary Lindsay Marlow said. “We have International Dark Skies, and next to them we’ll have a station where kids can make constellations from toothpicks and mini marshmallows.
“We have Missouri Kids Unplugged, and we’ll have some kind of activity near them.
“Then we have Missouri Master Naturalists, who bring animal-related items, like pelts and footprint molds. We’re going to have a bird feeder-making station near them.”
Other stations will offer Duplo blocks for toddlers, coloring activities for all ages and K’Nex and Lego building areas.
Marlow said fair organizers appreciate the community’s support.
“We got a gift card from the local Walmart that paid for supplies. They’ve done that for several years,” she said. “We are grateful for the donations and the people who have volunteered to help.”
Still struggling
The Mastodon Fair started in 1979.
“We really want to continue our mission to encourage our community in art and science,” DeClue said. “But we are completely funded by donations; we don’t get any state or federal funding. We are so grateful for our donors, and we have a lot of smaller donors, but we don’t have the big ones anymore. COVID changed things for a lot of people. “
The fair receives in-kind support from the local radio station KJFF, and both cash and in-kind support from Jefferson College.
“We really appreciate them, as well as our corporate and individual contributors,” DeClue said. “But we need more help to keep the fair alive. We are always looking for volunteers and judges.”
The organization plans to hold an art and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camp for students July 10-13 on the Jefferson College campus in Hillsboro. “It’s the second year for art, but this is the first time for the STEM camp,” DeClue said.
Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and pre-registration is required.
“The science camp is $150 for the week, if paid by July 1, and the art camp is $45 per day,” DeClue said. “The fee goes up the closer it gets to the camp, so it’s beneficial to register early. Plus, if they register by June 22, they get a shirt.”
Another fundraising event is a mouse race slated for July 21 at the Festus-Crystal City Elks lodge in Crystal City.
The Mastodon Art and Science Regional Fair is a nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.
For more information, e-mail director@mastodonfair.org or call or text 314-529-1329. You may also visit mastodonfair.org or the Mastodon Fair Facebook page.