Ohio 4-H Engineering Team Excels at National Contest

            The 9-member Ohio team won three individual contests at the 59^th National 4-H Engineering Challenge held October 4-6 at West Lafayette, Indiana. Three others finished second.

Here are the members, county, and the contest areas they competed in:
Joshua Robinson, Licking County, Aerospace

Kody Seger, Auglaize County, Aerospace
Eric Paulson, Sandusky County, Bicycle
Aaron Benson, Fairfield County, Computer
Greg Howard, Ashtabula County, Electric
Derek Edgington, Pickaway County, Small Engines

Aaron Sollars, Fayette County, Tractor

Kayla Luzadder, Perry  County, Welding

Laura Goshe, Seneca County, Welding

            The individual first place winners from Ohio were Joshua Robinson, Greg Howard, and Derek Edgington.

            Kody Seger, Aaron Benson and Kayla Luzadder each finished second in their contests.

Other states which had at least one person who finished in the top three were Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi,  and Wisconsin.

            These projects which emphasize engineering, science and technology help youth explore exciting careers that are in great demand and with income levels well above average. Welding, for example, has career opportunities ranging from being a professional welder, teaching welding, to welding engineering. Computer careers include software development, computer repair and computer engineering. The tractor and small engines projects have launched many youth into agricultural engineering careers.

            Fifty-seven 4-H members from 11 states competed in the event. These 4-H members represented about 350,000 nationwide who completed the projects in local clubs and competed in county and state contests. The top three in each contest received plaques.  Every contestant received a framed certificate and commemorative shirt.

            A new contest, Robotics, was held as a demonstration event. In Robotics, a team of 3 girls from Maryland and a team of 2 boys from Illinois had 24 hours to design, construct and program Vex robots to perform two specified tasks. Each team won one of the tasks.

            A team competition at the event is the Engineering Bowl which requires quick recall and in-depth knowledge of the 4-H project manuals and other references.  Illinois defeated Indiana in the final round.

            Lincoln Electric, based in Cleveland, sponsored the Welding contest and the Engineering Bowl. Deere and Company sponsored the Lawn Tractor and Small Engines contests.  Landis + Gyr and Stuart C. Irby Company sponsored the Electric contest. Additional funds for the Ohio team were provided by the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association and (professional speaker) WillRogersToday.com.

            Each contest included a written test on engineering and scientific principles related to their project. Depending on the area, most contestants either presented a technical talk or skillfully operated a vehicle. Aerospace contestants launched model rockets. Welding contestants completed a weldment. Safety was emphasized in all phases of the contests.

         Contestants and accompanying adults (including 14 Ohio parents) spent a day on educational field trips at Purdue University and industrial sites nearby. Included were workshops in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and educational guided tours of Subaru of Indiana Automotive and a wind farm.

         The event was conducted by Extension Agricultural Engineers, 4-H professionals and volunteers from participating states. Randall Reeder, OSU Extension Agricultural Engineer, is the Chair of the Management Committee for the event.