Sienna Harden and Vivian Bozek, sixth-grade students at Saint Joseph Catholic School, recently won first place in the middle school animal sciences division at the 69th Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair held at Colorado State University. Their project, “You Got Good Milk,” focused on determining the best goat milk based on various factors. The young scientists wanted to explore goat milk as a dairy substitute for those who are lactose intolerant, as they knew many people who struggled with digesting lactose.
During their research, Sienna and Vivian discovered that older goats produce higher-quality milk compared to younger goats. They also noted that the breed of goat plays a significant role in the quality of the milk. Larger breeds like Nubian and Alpine had higher fat and protein content, while smaller breeds like Nigerian Dwarf had higher levels of cholesterol. This finding was surprising to Sienna and Vivian, as it went against their initial assumptions.
The students hope that their research will be beneficial to dairy goat farmers, providing insight into the factors that can influence milk quality. As the winners of the competition, Sienna and Vivian were awarded $225 and medals. They were also nominated for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, an honor that recognizes their project as being in the top ten percent of middle school science fair projects in the nation.
Saint Joseph Catholic School is committed to providing its students with an education grounded in Gospel teachings and academic excellence while fostering a love for learning and instilling values that promote compassion and respect for others. To learn more about Saint Joseph Catholic School or schedule a tour, visit https://gosaintjoseph
