2008 Wyoming Agricultural Mechanics

Career Development Event

            The theme for 2008 is Processing Systems.  The state contest this year will be similar to the examples provided at the 2007 Fall clinic.  Processing systems include structures, energy and power, machinery and equipment, and the combined environmental and natural resources/industry and marketing systems.  Each member of a four person team will perform a skill in each of the following system areas:

            Structural Systems: Plumbing, copper, pvc, flexible copper tubing, iron pipe threading, cutting, etc.

Energy Systems: Electrical Wiring, switches, outlets, lighting. (sug. ref: Phipps and Reynolds,  Mechanics in Agriculture).

Machinery Systems: feed mixing equipment, portable batch processing, grinding, mixing.

Environment/Natural Resources Systems: Combined with the Industry and Marketing Systems.

Industry and Marketing Systems: This area is copied directly from the national website; The focus will be on electric, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic systems commonly found used for process control.  Contestants should be able to use specification sheets, common tables (ex. wire size), and parts and repair manuals.  Problems will be based on electrical wiring and electric motors equipment.  (Note: This is a change from the Fall Clinic since the national CDE updated their website in December)

Team Activity

            Each team should bring a minimum of one laptop computer that contains Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software.   Since the national rules allow for two laptop computers, it is encouraged that teams bring two computers to the state event.  Each laptop should have a 120 volt charger/cord and the case and computer clearly labeled with the school name. It is also recommended that each team bring their own storage device, a USB removable drive for storage of their work.   It would be helpful if the Flash drive were named with the school name that displays on the screen when inserted in the computer.

Written Test

            A 100 item multiple-choice test will be included with questions from each of the systems areas described above.  The primary references for the questions will be Phipps and Reynolds, Mechanics in Agriculture, the manufacturer’s operators manual for the New Holland grinder mixer, and the Internet.  Search the Internet for the keywords in the description of each area for additional information that may be on the test.

Other Requirements: Each team member must bring:

• -safety glasses

-coveralls or shop coat

-clipboard and pencil

-hand-held calculator

2.  Each team bring one or two laptop computers with word processing/spreadsheet and PowerPoint and a memory stick.  (We will not be able to schedule a computer lab)  We will provide printers.  It will be a better learning experience for the teams if each team of 4 students brings 2 computers.  Don’t forget the power cords!

3.  Each team member should bring a hand-held calculator, a clipboard and pencil or pen.  Appropriate work clothing should include, industry approved safety glasses, coveralls or shop coat, and shoes that cover the foot.

Additional information and guidelines for preparing as a team are available on the UW Agricultural Education website at this link, Fall Clinic 2007 .