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.
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