A group of young Petoskey inventors excelled at the Invention Convention Michigan state finals last month in Dearborn, with a few advancing to the national competition.
Lincoln Elementary School fifth grade students Fletcher Cherry and Kylie Alexander were awarded second place in the grades 3-5 category during the competition, which took place at the Henry Ford Museum. They were also awarded the Overall Agriculture Award, qualifying them for the 2026 RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, set for June 3–5. The duo invented an automated calf puller to support farmers.
According to Sarah Roche, the MiSTEM Director for Northwestern Lower Michigan, the two students said their machine will aid farmers and veterinarians with delivering baby cows.
“It will make their lives easier and increase the success rate of animal birth,” the Lincoln students said in a MiSTEM press release. “The old device uses a chain and human strength. Our invention is faster and easier for the vet and farmer.”
Evie Streeting and Clara Russell, also in the fifth grade at Lincoln, received the “Best In Region” award for their invention, Clean Strike. Their invention cleans and sanitizes bowling ball holes, helping to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
“Our students were incredibly excited to share their innovations,” Roche said. “It was amazing to see all of these innovations on display, including our (state finalists) who were able to see their work on display at the Henry Ford Museum.”
Around 80 students gathered in Kalkaska in March for the area’s first-ever Invention Convention Michigan’s regional competition, organized by the Northwest Michigan MiSTEM Network and held in partnership with The Henry Ford. The students came from Alanson, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, East Jordan, Northport and Petoskey schools. From regionals, 27 students qualified for the state finals.
Roche said working on the inventions helped students build confidence.
“It allows them to showcase their creativity,” she added. “They really believe their ideas could make a true impact, and they’re right.”
During the Invention Convention competitions, students present prototypes and explain the thinking behind their inventions to a panel of judges. They create a presentation board, a prototype and display a logbook with further details.
Chris Whitley, an elementary school STEM teacher at Lincoln and Ottawa elementary schools, worked with Fletcher and Kylie on their calf puller. Along with Whitley, the students have access to multiple teachers and parents who helped with the process. The team will drive back down to Dearborn with their families to compete in the national competition in June. Lodging and registration fees are covered through a variety of funding sources, including the Public Schools of Petoskey.
Invention Convention Michigan is a statewide K–12 initiative delivered through The Henry Ford’s inHub learning platform. The program encourages students to identify real-world challenges, design solutions and develop prototypes while building skills in STEM, creativity and entrepreneurship.
“These events have opened students’ eyes to what is possible,” said Roche, who expects an even larger turnout next year. “Some who are coming back may want to develop new inventions while others will make (improvements) to what they created this year.”
Learn more about Invention Convention at inhub.thehenryford.org/icw/michigan, and Northwest Michigan MiSTEM Network at mistemregion13.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey students find success at Invention Convention state competition
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
