(Union City, Tennessee, Feb. 5, 2024) – Discovery Park of America hosted eight teams from area schools in the Canstruction Jr. competition on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The teams created unique sculptures entirely of cans or other non-perishable food packages. The entries will be displayed in the ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall until February 23, 2024.

Canstruction is a global non-profit charity that creates structures out of full cans of food which is later donated to local food banks. Students use art, design, math and problem-solving skills to create structures using unopened cans of food.

Sponsors of the 2024 event were Ben E. Keith Foods, Westan Insurance Group, Homestead Timber Frames and Allen Searcy Building-Contractor. Students were provided funds to purchase the cans they needed for their sculptures. After the exhibit ends, the items will be donated to local food banks including Reelfoot Rural Ministries, Helping Hands, Greater Vision Church Pantry and Job’s Table.

In his welcoming comments to students, Discovery Park CEO Scott Williams said, “This event is special for all of us at Discovery Park for many reasons. Not only is it always amazing to see the students’ creations, the idea of bringing this to our region came from the late Jenny Kirkland, wife of Discovery Park founder Robert Kirkland, after she saw it taking place in Memphis.” He added, “She very much loved this event and seeing what the talented young people created.”

Teams that competed in the 2024 Canstruction Jr. competition were Dyer County 4-H Club, Lake Road Middle School, Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central STEM Program, Obion County Central High School, Northwest Tennessee Homeschool Co-op, Dresden Middle School, Union City High School and Westview High School.

The sculptures will be displayed until February 23, 2024, at Discovery Park of America.

Find more photos from the 2024 Canstruction Jr. competition on Discovery Park’s Flickr Page.

Click Here to Download High-Resolution Photo

Photo Caption: Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central
STEM Club wins the overall 2024 Canstruction Jr.
competition. Students designed their sculpture titled
“Farm to Table: Feeding West Tennessee One Crop at
a Time.” Pictured L to R: (Front Row) Hillary McEwen,
advisor; Amia Perrigo, Spencer Ervin, Mary Williams,
Ansley Hollingsworth, (middle row) Meagan Wimberley;
advisor, Stella Higdon, Bryleigh Sauls, Avery Hollingsworth,
Abigail Hollingsworth, Ava Anthony, Theresa Scott, advisor;
(Back Row) Anna Frazee, Ava Finley, Thatcher Crews, Oliver
Bennett, Gage Phelps and Monica Whitman.

Photo Caption: Sculpture built by Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central STEM Club titled,
“Farm to Table: Feeding West Tennessee
One Crop at a Time.”

Click Here to Download High-Resolution Photo