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Powercat Tractors Team takes second at international competition
Kansas
The Kansas State University Powercat Tractors Team continued its outstanding record by finishing second in the eighth annual American Society of Agricultural Engineers International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, June 2 to 5 in Moline, Ill.
The K-State team, made up of undergraduates in biological and agricultural engineering and agricultural technology management, is the only team to place in the top three, including four firsts, continuously since 1999. The competition began in 1998.
"To once more come in with this type of finish speaks volumes of the commitment of our students and faculty in this team effort," said Jim Koelliker, head of the department of biological and agricultural engineering at K-State. "I was very proud to be there and watch our students compete and place so high once again in this event."
Entries were judged in four areas -- overall quality of design, oral report presentation, written report and maneuverability and pulling performance. Up against 26 teams from around the nation and world, the 14-member K-State team took first in two of the four pulling competitions, second in the written report, third in design ergonomics and sixth in the oral presentation.
Oklahoma State University placed first in the competition and other top 10 overall finishers behind K-State were the University of Kentucky, Purdue University, Penn State University, Texas A&M University, Iowa State University, University of Illinois, Ohio State University and the University of Nebraska.
All teams were required to use unmodified, 16-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engines and Bridgestone/Firestone tires. The rest of the design was up to each individual team.
The K-State X-Team, made up of first-year team members, won a separate 12-team competition, finishing first in two pulls and first in the oral presentation.
"The X-team win provides good prospects for K-State's continued success in next year's competition," Koelliker said.
Team advisers are Mark Schrock and Pat Murphy, professors; and Darrell Oard and Lou Ann Claassen, biological and agricultural engineering staff assistants.
Team members and their hometowns include:
Jesse Koch, Centralia, and Kevin Swenson, Concordia, both agricultural technology management majors; Jace Chipperfield, Goodland, Gordon Hooper, Hiawatha, and Cory Friedl, Hope, all biological and agricultural engineering majors; Jeff Wessel, Hoxie, agricultural technology management; Kyle Riebel, Humboldt, and Ryan Zecha, Larned, both biological and agricultural engineering; Dustin Ballinger, Madison, and Brandon Winter, Mount Hope, both agricultural technology management; Cole Tepe, Spearville, and Eric Bussen, Wallace, both biological and agricultural engineering; Alan Niehues, Wetmore, and Justin Weseloh, Yates Center, both biological and agricultural engineering majors.
Date: 6/21/05
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