Agricultural Mechanics

2008 Theme:  Processing Systems

Return to list of events

University contact person: Dr. Rick Bockhop

Information from related Agricultural Mechanics Events:

• Fox Valley Agricultural Mechanics event
• River Falls Agricultural Mechanics event
• Wisconsin State Agricultural Mechanics event
• Janesville Career Development events
• National Agricultural Mechanics web site
• National Agricultural Mechanics rules

CDE Coordinator:  Rick Bockhop and David Heimerdinger

Contest Purpose:  To provide a competitive event for high school agriculture students, empahsizing knowledge and skills in agricultural mechanics.

Objectives:

1. To provide high school agriculture students with agricultural mechanics interests a practical experience that will serve them well in industry positions.
2. To develop students' skills in observation, analysis, calculation and cooperation.
3. To provide experience to students in the areas of machinery and equipment systems, energy systems, structural systems and environmental/natural resource systems.
4. To provide an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills of systems listed above to a specific domain or theme.  The theme for 2007 being Materials Handling systems.
5. To encourage high school agriculture teachers to seek assistance from various resources in agricultural mechanics and apply these in their classrooms activities.

Event format:

Processing Systems is theme of the 2008 event.

The following items are being considered for the Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event.  Please check back periodically to see if changes have been made.

I. The specific theme for the 2008 is Processing systems. Topics in each of the four areas are listed below.

• Industry and Marketing Systems:  Identifying tools to purchase for general farm shop.
• Machinery and Equipment Systems:  John Deere 4010 and AGCO New Idea Model 4854 Round Baler.  Questions and problems from operator's manual. 
• Energy Systems:  Questions and problems related to hydraulics including interpreting schematics of a hydraulic system.
• Structural Systems:  Welding with a stick welder.  Selection of rod and amperages for welding on a given piece of metal.  Questions specific to welding.
• Environmental/Natural Resource Systems: NA
• Team Activity:  Problem related to grain processing.  Determining harvesting, transportation, drying, storage and any other event that may be included in moving grain from the field to market.
• Any of the topics listed here are subject to be included in the written exam.

II. Contestants will participate in any or all of the following events:

1. Hands-On individual problem solving/skill development activity
2. Written examination covering areas of Ag Mechanics related to Processing Systems
3. Team problem solving activity

III. Contestants are expected to provide their own safety clothing and eye protection.

1. Industrial quality eye protection must be worn when working in labs
2. Clothing, welding helmit and gloves for arc welding.
3. Students should bring a calculator.

IV. NOTE:

• Contest events are subject to change upon availability of labs, weather, and other factors without notice.

Bring a pencil, eye protection, welding gloves and welding helmet!