A2B-Lancast«r Farming, Saturday, April 2, 1994 LOIS SZYMANSKI Maryland Correspondent HAMPSTEAD. Md. If the theoretical capacity of a 14-foot self-propelled windrowcr is seven acres per hour and it cuts 63.7 acres in 13 working hours, what is its Held efficiency? Is the answer, a. 70 percent, b. 41 percent, c. 62 percent or d. 91 percent? If you knew the answer was a. 70 percent, give yourself a re ward! This was just one of ninety questions that eight Future Farm ers of America took their time to answer in the recent regional Ag Mechanic Teqt, which was held at As part of the recent regional Ag Mechanic’s contest at North Carroll High School, Kevin Snyder of North Carroll High School works on hooking up the electricity It takes to make a light. Bobby Bollinger of Francis Scott Key’s FFA Chapter wires a switch and an outlet. Regional Maryland Ag Mechanics Contest Held North Carroll High School in Hampstead, Maryland. The test gave FFA members from Carroll, Baltimore and Harford counties the opportunity to be tested on some of the things they will use in life should they choose a career in agriculture. Delivered in three parts, the first part of the test was a ten page written exam with questions that explored everything from oil vis cosity. diesel injection and plane tary gear systems, to the direction to mow a hay field, soil types in Maryland and questions about acreage. In die second pvt of the test, (the five page problem solving section), the participants were al lowed to use charts and graphs to answer similar mechanical, elec trical or .agricultural questions. The third part was a hands-on exploration of each student’s ex pertise at wiring electrical circuits, putting together a piston assem bly, identifying parts of a small engine, miking all three journals of a crank pin and using a tele scoping gauge and a micrometer and a manual to find information on a Briggs and Stratton engine. They needed to identify five wood fasteners, answer questions about shingling and lay the first four courses as well as many other practical demonstrations of skill. Two teams consisting of four students participated. From Fran cis Scott Key; Eric Wantz, Tom fomey, Bob Bollinger and Hatton Brown took part. From North Car roll High School, participants were Kevin Snyder, Woody Tuf fley, Brandon Barthel and Jerry Johnson. Each of these students will go on to compete at the State Ag Mechanics Contest which is scheduled for April 28 at the Uni versity of Maryland. Winners there will go on to the National competition to be held the second week of November in Kansas City, Kansas. In preparing the exam North Carroll High School’s Ag Science teacher and FFA advisor to the school, Sara Osborne worked closely with former National con testant and Middletown FFA Ad visor, Gregg Stull. Terry Wivell and Richard Summers, two repre sentatives from D.W. Ogg Equip ment Company of Frederick, Maryland were on hand to check the participants’ workmanship. “This is our first time doing this,” said Sara Osborne of the test. “We’ve put a lot of time and hard work into it and we look for it to grow with each year.” While the FFA team from Fran cis Scott Key scored the highest, the dedication and effort exhibited by all during the testing proved that every participant is a winner. Next on their agenda... the State competition in April! Mid East UDIA Hosts Meeting COLUMBUS, Ohio The opening luncheon at the 1994 Dairy Spectacular will provide an opportunity for dairy producers to learn more about the value of their investment in product promotion. Mid East UDIA is to serve as host of the luncheon and annual information meeting which is to take place April 21, at 11 a.m., in the Ohio Agriculture Building on the Ohio State Fair Grounds. Discussion following the lunc heon will focus on the programs implemented by Mid East UDIA and what a difference they are making in building demand for milk and milk products. Producers will see how check off dollars contribute to efficient, coordinated advertising cam paigns, nutrition education prog rams in schools that position dairy products as nutritious and deli cious food choices, and work shops to help retailers and restaur ants to boost milk sales. Individuals that would like to attend the luncheon and annual meeting must R.S.V.P. with Mid East UDIA at 1-800-292-MILK by April 14. Eric Wantz of tha Francis Scott Key chapter of Future Farmers of America wires a switch as part of the regional Ag Mechanics Contest. Woody Tuffloy of North Carroll County puts togotlwr a piston assembly. Brandon Barthal of North Carroll High teats his skill at wiring elactricity to a light. » / r
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