State fair soda showers brought a world record back to mid-Missouri
by Lauren Schad, posted Sept. 4, 2009
Hundreds of families gathered on the infield of the Pepsi Grandstand at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on Aug. 22, to help set the world record for most Mentos and Pepsi fountains launched at one time.
The final count: 2,211.
Thousands of packs of Mentos candy were loaded into plastic tubes and inserted into bottles of Diet Pepsi Max. The fountains were arranged in a giant 4-H clover, and when a fire truck blew its horn, all 2,211 toothpick triggers were pulled and an enormous soda shower erupted.
“4-H has a big push this year with science, engineering and technology,” said Mike Razim, event participant and Mizzou collegiate 4-H member. “We are trying to equip kids with a passion for science.”
 |
Soda fountains launch as a new world-record was set at the Missouri State Fair on Aug. 22 in Sedalia.
Photo courtesy the MU Cooperative Media Group. |
The engineer of the launch, Jason Lindsey, set the 2007 world record for 1,000 fountains at an event in southeast Missouri, but that record was later broken by Belgium students.
Lindsey is also the host of Hooked on Science, an outreach program he created to get kids excited about science. Missouri 4-H, along with Hooked on Science and Science and Citizens Organized for Purpose and Exploration, or SCOPE, sponsored the event.
“Events like these give students a chance to get involved in science in a fun and interactive way, not just inside a classroom,” said Sara Kahrs, state 4-H president.
Participants in the event said it helped not only awareness of science, but of the opportunities in Missouri 4-H youth development.
“Anytime kids and families see 4-H in a fun, learning environment can help promote the program,” said Whitney Wallace, agricultural journalism senior and 4-H alum. “As a 4-H alum, I know the organization is all about providing kids with fun ways to learn new things. It's great to see others discover the potential opportunities if they get involved in their local 4-H.”
Kahrs agrees that the event was a positive reflection on 4-H.
“I hope that the non-4-H'ers who were participating in the soda launch were able to meet a 4-H'er or two, and have the opportunity to visit with them about our programs,” Kahrs said.
To view a video of the world-record-setting event, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtK0x1PRO00
