Ag Tech and Mech

2024 State- state website

The theme this year is Plant Production Systems. 

Along the consistent test/practicum areas will be a 25-question AC electrical Test with about 5 very general DC electrical questions mostly regarding the purpose of devices such as capacitors, resistors, etc.  The wiring practicum will remain the same.  Students will connect a switch, receptacle, and a lamp in the 15 minute time, according to the schematic and instructions noted on the scoresheet.

There will also be a test/practicum over Small Gas Engines.  The test will include 25 general questions about small gas engines, theory and settings.  Understanding Model and Code numbers will be necessary, and information about piston rings and calibration readings will be included.  Knowing 25 various parts and specific tools used with small gas engine work will be arranged for identification in the practicum component.

For the other parts of the Event I am searching means to utilize production systems a little more with conventional plant production found in Nebraska.

For the equipment evaluation component I am attempting to make arrangements to have a large round baler on site to answer 25 questions about.  As soon as this is definite I will share the notice, or of a different item.

For an Operator’s Manual 25-question test, I had thought to use a planter manual, but online manuals mostly have a price tag, and some are extremely long (256 pages or more).  I have a couple other ideas and as soon as I receive copyright permission I will share the general equipment manual to study.  (In the meantime, any set of questions over any manual would be good practice.)

The team activity will be modeled after an activity the North Central Kansas district contest included several years ago at NCKTC in Beloit.  Students had to determine plant populations from seed rows on the floor and find adjustments or setting in planter charts.  Practice might include determining populations at comparing row spacings, and determining populations over an acre of field, and estimations of seed needs, such as how many bags at 80,000 seeds per bag, costs per acre, etc. 

I will use corn for this exercise.  Corn is the number one crop grown in Nebraska with over 9.62 million acres in 2022.  A key number for population determination is 13feet, 9inches of row length.  You can read more about population measuring online.

Working on tests for now between vertical work in welding and electronic components in pivots, and bearings, belts, and gears in equipment  maintenance.