Ag Engineering

Tractor Maintenance Wraps Up Another Successful Year

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The Fairfield County Small Engines & Tractor Maintenance 4-H club wrapped up another year of programming with a traditional banquet on Monday, March 18th at the Amanda United Methodist Church.  The Club is one of only a handful of such clubs in the state at the county level and has been in existence for more than 75 years.

At the banquet, Mr. Adam Sharp from the Ohio Farm Bureau, a former member of the Club, spoke about the agricultural industry in Ohio and the importance of the skills and lessons we learned this year, such as problem-solving, time-management, conflict resolution, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.

Next, Club Advisor Kim Root thanked the 2024 Club Officers: Brice Beery, President; Vice President, Carter Miller; Secretary, Grady Philson; Treasurer, Jacob Duke-Ward; and News Reporters, Henry Pratt and George Kraner.

The Advisors [Kim Root (Small Engines I), Andrew Hettinger (Small Engines II), Nate Seitz (Small Engines III), Brandt Coffman (Tractor Maintenance I), Nate Howdyshell (Tractor Maintenance II), and Clark Hunsinger (Tractor Maintenance III) also recognized their 35 students who completed the project books, hands-on projects, and/or final tests at each project level and gave each of us a certificate of completion.

The Club also thanked the hosts of the weekly meetings this year: OSU Extension Office, Millersport Agri Service Inc., Miller Farms, Fairfield County Ag Society, Travis Cupp Farm, Company Wrench, Liberty Union Agricultural Education Department, Foltz Ag Enterprises, and Specialty Tractor as well as the staff of the Fairfield County Extension and 4-H Office, Stacy Hicks and Aubry Fowler.

We can’t wait until next year to do it all again!

4-H is a non-formal educational youth development program for individuals 8 and in third grade or 9 years old through age 18 as of January 1, 2024 for more information, contact the Fairfield County Extension office at 740-653-5419.

Kim Root, Advisor

Fairfield County Small Engines & Tractor Maintenance

Submitted on behalf of Club News Reporter, Henry Pratt

Save the Dates: 2024 Summer Judging will be July 15 & 16

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NEW for 2024, we will be having summer project judging on TWO days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds.

Monday, July 15, 2024

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects
  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
    • Details are still being worked out for the Style Revue.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

Tractor Maintenance 1st Meeting – January 8th

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TRACTOR MAINTENANCE & SMALL ENGINES 4-H CLUB

The Tractor Maintenance & Small Engines 4-H Club is looking for new members! 4-H is a non-formal, educational youth development program for individuals age 8 and in 3rd grade or 9 years old through age 18, as of January 1, 2024.

This 4-H club is unique in that they focus on one specific topic – Small Engines and Big Tractors. This club meets on Monday nights from Jan – March. They also teach individuals how to work on small engines and tractors while visiting different businesses and agriculture shops throughout the county. No experience is necessary – This is a great opportunity to learn something new!

The club is also using a new curriculum that focuses on tractor safety and how to properly perform tractor maintenance. The Tractor Maintenance courses are available to members who have taken the small engine project books or have had previous experience working on machinery.

The club meets every Monday in January through Mid-March. The first meeting will be Monday, January 8, 2024 at 7:00p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center, 831 College Ave, Lancaster. Joining 4-H is relatively inexpensive – Members can participate in Tractor Maintenance for $18! All interested members are welcome to attend this first meeting to learn more and get registered! For more information, contact the Fairfield County Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

Congrats to Ohio State Fair Project Winners (non-livestock)

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The non-livestock results from the 2022 Ohio State Fair are posted online. Click here to see a complete list.

Clothing:

Rian Raver, Sundresses and Jumpers, Outstanding of the Day

Saige Howard, Sew for Others – Junior, Outstanding of the Day

Hannah Brown, Dress Up Daywear, Clock Trophy Winner

Julia Ribo, Sew Fun – Senior, Outstanding of the Day

Mary Cate Kitsmiller, Clothes for High School and College, Outstanding of the Day

Scarlett R. Sims, Designed By Me, Outstanding of the Day

Rachel Sponseller, Ready, Set, Sew Active, Outstanding of the Day

Creative Arts:

Isabella Byrd, Get Started in Art – Senior, Outstanding of the Day

Jaela Kim, Seeing Through Graphic Design, Outstanding of the Day

Creative Arts – Cake Decorating:

Alexis Kline, Cake Decorating Advanced – Junior, Clock Trophy Winner

Communications:

Gracie Weber, Demonstration – Junior, Outstanding of the Day

Companion Animals:

Hannah Jones, You & Your Dog Interview (Ages 8-10), Outstanding of the Day

Gracie Weber, Reptiles & Amphibians (Age 8+), Honorable Mention

Engineering Excitement:

Kendall Wild, Science Fun with Electricity, Outstanding of the Day

Family Life:

Megan Maloney, Babysitting, Outstanding of the Day

Food and Nutrition:

Charlotte Werner, Yeast Breads on The Rise, Outstanding of the Day

Julia Luallen, Kitchen Boss, Outstanding of the Day

Cece Woods, Sports Nutrition – Senior, Outstanding of the Day

Health:

Max Sims, Staying Healthy-Junior, Clock Trophy Winner

Matthew Taylor, First Aid in Action-Junior, Outstanding of the Day

Home Decorating:

Sophia Preston, Makeover My Space-Junior, Clock Trophy Winner

Leadership:

Kate Johnson, Club Leadership, Clock Trophy Winner

Grace Terflinger, Leadership Self-Determined (Camp Counseling), Outstanding of the Day

Photography:

Daisy D’Amico, Controlling the Image – Level 2, Outstanding of the Day

STEM:

Gracie Weber, From Airedales to Zebras – Vet Science I, Outstanding of the Day

Shooting Sports:

Alayna Leppert, Shooting Sports-Archery, Junior, Outstanding of the Day

Brendan Logsdon, Shooting Sports-Archery, Senior, Outstanding of the Day

Natural Resources:

Josiah Edwards, Beekeeping – Junior, Clock Trophy Winner

Gracie Weber, Outdoor Adventurer: Beginning Fishing, Outstanding of the Day

Lucille Fish, Explore the Outdoors, Outstanding of the Day

Julia Ribo, Grow Your Own Vegetables, Clock Trophy Winner

Workforce Prep:

Brin-Leigh Hoisington, Workforce Prep – Junior, Clock Trophy Winner

 

4-H Summer Judging for STEM Projects: Wednesday, July 13th

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Hello 4-H Members enrolled in STEM Projects!

We hope that you are busy working on your 4-H projects this summer. Here are a few important updates to be aware of:

  • All STEM Projects will be judged on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment, see scheduling info below).
    • If you cannot attend this judging day, you can:
      1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling 740-653-5419 to schedule an appointment. Participation in Late Judging receives a grade only, and is not eligible for county awards or state fair consideration.
      2. Advisor Completion – Talk to your club advisor as they can work with you to review your project for completion only. No grades or awards will be given with this option.
      3. There will be no early judging.
  • Scheduling is now open for summer judging!
    • We ask that you schedule an appointment that works best for you by using this link: go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging
    • Scheduling will be open through MIDNIGHT, Sunday, July 10th. 
    • If you have more than one project judged on this day, please be sure to schedule an appointment for EACH PROJECT. Also, please allow time between appointments to complete each interview.
  • Please review the 4-H Member Handbook and 4-H Project Member Guidelines as you complete your project(s) and prepare for judging.

Please contact the Extension Office if you have additional questions about project judging! We can’t wait to see you in less than one month!

Scholarship Opportunity: Precision Agriculture – Due 9/25/2020

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Precision Agriculture:  Positive Impacts on the Environment Scholarship Contest
Farms.com is pleased to announce a contest for a chance to win one of three US $2,000 scholarships for students who have a precision agriculture idea that will have a positive impact on the environment.

In addition to the $2,000 scholarship prize, the winners, as determined by voting in each country, will be invited to participate in a Student Panel as part of Farm.com Precision Ag Virtual Conference in November 2020, where they will have the opportunity to present their thesis idea in more detail to farmers attending the Farms.com Virtual Precision Agriculture Conference and Trade Show. Full details and application can be found at https://www.farms.com/precision-agriculture/conferences/virtual-precision-ag-conference-2020/scholarship-contest. Deadline is 11:59 pm, Friday September 25, 2020

Summer Judging Results from Day 3 (Wednesday, July 15th): Engineering & Environmental Science

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We are so proud of the hard work 4-H members have put into their projects this year! Congrats to all!

Here are the results of our members who participated in judging on Day 3 (Wednesday, July 15th). For a complete list of results, click here.

Summer Judging – Please Schedule an Interview Time by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 10th!

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Greetings 4-Hers!

Thank you to those who recently responded to last week’s survey regarding project completion options. We have taken survey responses into consideration, along with OSU’s guidance on primarily using virtual options for events due to the potential continued spread of COVID-19. In that light, we will be conducting project judging interviews using the online video conference format called Zoom. This will allow for a live, interactive interview with a judge and 4-Her. For those 4-Hers that do not have access to adequate technology to support a Zoom interview, we will offer a few limited slots for an in-person interview. Please read details below before choosing your judging appointment.

All SUMMER project judging will be conducted the week of July 13th. Projects will be judged on these originally scheduled days:

  • Monday, July 13: Food, Home Dec, Genealogy, Laundry, Health, Child Care
  • Tuesday, July 14: Demonstration, Communication, Creative Arts
  • Wednesday, July 15: Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Thursday, July 16: Clothing

Awards this year will be simplified with Outstandings and Honorable Mentions across projects. There is no state-level competition this year, so the primary focus of county judging will be the interview experience and an opportunity for the 4-Her to share what they have learned. Note: we will not be awarding special overall food or clothing awards this year.

Project displays: in order to offer flexibility, you may create a poster and have it near you for zoom judging, or a digital poster that you could ‘screen share’ and later print out to display at the fair. Note: food projects will NOT be required to complete a portfolio this year. Instead you could do a mini poster to display at the fair. The choice is yours.

Online (Zoom) Judging for all summer projects:

  • Extension staff will ‘host’ the meeting and send a link to the judge and 4-Her. Staff will remain online throughout the meeting as tech support, timekeeper and to provide a 2nd adult to avoid any one-on-one meetings with youth.
  • 4-Her and judge will utilize their own computer with a camera or device from their own homes.
  • This is a ‘live’ interactive interview and the judge can ask 4-Her questions.
  • Training will be provided on how to participate in a zoom interview.

In-person Judging for youth without access to internet or computer/phone:

  • Note: this option is reserved for members who cannot do a zoom interview because they do not have access to technology
  • Safety measures:
    • 4-Hers, judges and staff will be asked to wear masks. (provided if needed)
    • Plexiglass tabletop shields positioned between the judge and 4-Her
    • 6-foot distance between everyone
    • Surfaces will be sanitized after each 4-Her
  • Held at the Ed Sands building at the fairgrounds the week of July 13.
  • 4-Hers will wait in their car until it is time to be judged.

As a reminder, if you have a project that you do not plan to complete, please email Missy Koenig at Koenig.398@osu.edu with the project you wish to drop from your record. You also have the option of interviewing with your club advisor for project completion. Please contact your advisor to make arrangements.

We are excited to see all that you have completed and learned in your 4-H projects this summer. Please click on this link to schedule your SUMMER judging appointment by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 10th: Summer Judging Scheduling Link.  Please note:  If you have multiple summer projects or multiple 4-H members, you will need to re-select the link to schedule additional projects, it is not member specific.

~Fairfield County 4-H Team

“Investigating Electricity” Virtual Special Interest SPIN Club

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Join Hamilton County 4-H Volunteer Dean Rettig for the “Investigating Electricity” Virtual Special Interest (SPIN) Club!
Dates: Tuesday & Thursdays June 2, 2020- June 18, 2020
Times: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

REGISTER HERE: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_beLF8Kl32cA7AEt

Session 1

  • Introduction
  • Going back and forth (galvanometer – AC vs DC)

Session 2

  • The Electric Detective’s Most Important Tool  (Intro to Multi-Meter / volt-ohm meter
  • To Flow or Not To Flow (conductors vs insulators

Session 3

  • Ohm’s Law  (water bottle / garden hose demo)
  • Decoding Circuit diagrams   (Into to Circuit diagrams)

Session 4

  • Case of the Series Circuit – measuring voltages across items in series circuit
  • Case of the Parallel Circuit

Session 5

  • Circuit Sense – more complicated circuits diagrams
  • Short Circuits

Session 6

  • Making a 3-way switch

Equipment List (Amazon Wish List):

  • Volt/Ohm meter aka Multi-meter
  • AA or D batteries
  • battery holder
  • paper clips
  • 22 or 24 gauge wire
  • compass
  • cardboard
  • flashlight bulb
  • bulb holder

Fairfield County Tractor Maintenance and Small Engines 4-H Club Meeting Updates

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Plenty to see and do for Fairfield County Tractor Maintenance and Small Engines 4-H Club

LANCASTER, Ohio (Feb. 12, 2020) — The Fairfield County Tractor Maintenance and Small Engines 4-H Club has had a great series of meetings so far in 2020. The group meets in different locations where they learn about a wide variety of engine types and parts.

Meeting locations have included the ASK Powersports dealership where 4-H members learned about the parts of a lawnmower engine; different types of farm equipment and oils were the topic at Miller Family Farms; and at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, members learned about the cooling abilities of fans in engines. Upcoming meetings will be held at Liberty Union High School and Taylor True Value Rental in Lancaster where students will continue to learn about the various parts of engines and maintenance basics.