University's quarter-scale tractor team places second at international competition
Friday, June 5, 2015
The Kansas State University quarter-scale tractor A team, from left: Eli Sheppard, Josh Mederios, Tyler Montgomery, Zach Stejskal, Jacob Schwindt, Ryan Strasser, Jordan Reisinger, Kyler Macy, Tyler Siebels, Austin Schmitz and Aaron Spare. | Download the following photo.
MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University quarter-scale tractor A team placed second overall at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' annual International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. This is the 17th time in the last 18 years that one of the university's teams has won or placed in the top three at the event.
The competition was May 28-31 in Peoria, Illinois.
This year's A team — juniors and seniors — in placing second out of 26 entries, scored first in the Sportsmanship Award, first in the Campbell Scientific Award, and second in performance events including three pulling and one durability contest. The team will be recognized at the society's annual meeting in July in New Orleans.
The university's quarter-scale tractor X team — freshmen and sophomores — placed first in pulling in the performance events.
The International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition is unique among student engineering design contests in that it provides a realistic 360-degree workplace experience. Teams of students are given a 31-horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine and a set of Titan tires. Design of the tractor is up to each team.
A panel of industry experts judges each design for innovation, manufacturability, serviceability, maneuverability, safety, sound level and ergonomics. Teams submit a written design report in advance of the competition, and on site they must sell their design in a formal presentation to the panel, which plays the role of a corporate management team. Finally, machines are put to the test in two performance events — three tractor pulls and a durability course.
Team advisers are Pat Murphy, professor, agriculture and natural resources; Dan Flippo, assistant professor, and Edwin Brokesh, instructor, both biological and agricultural engineering; John Kramer, emeritus assistant professor, K-State Research and Extension; Lou Ann Claassen, administrative specialist, and Jon Zeller, research technician, both biological and agricultural engineering; and Jim Schmidt, Manhattan, biological and agricultural engineering alumnus and department advisory board member.
The following students are members of Kansas State University's quarter-scale tractor teams. Leadership positions are also noted.
Tyler Montgomery, biological systems engineering, Almena, A team secretary; Austin Schmitz, biological systems engineering, Axtell, A team sponsorship co-chair; Kole Urban, biological systems engineering, X team, and Zach Stejskal, biological systems engineering, A team, both from Bison; Kasey Minihan, agricultural technology management, Blaine, X team; Gabe Bergmann, agricultural technology management, Concordia, X team shop foreman; Ryan Strasser, Garden City, biological systems engineering, A Team equipment manager; Jordan Reisinger, Havensville, biological systems engineering, A team vice president; Megan Workman, biological systems engineering, Lawrence, X team; Lars Peterson, Lindsborg, biological systems engineering, A team; Wade Stroda, agricultural technology management, X team, and E.J. Swihart, agricultural technology management, X team co-captain, both from Manhattan; Kyler Macy, biological systems engineering, Minneapolis, A team; Kristen Fischer, Nashville, mechanical engineering, A team sponsorship co-chair; Jacob Schwindt, mechanical engineering, Olpe, A team; Eli Sheppard, agricultural technology management, Olsburg, A team; Joshua Zeller, agricultural technology management, A team equipment manager, and Becky Zeller, elementary education, A team, both from Overbrook; Jonathan Pasowicz, biological systems engineering, Overland Park, A team engineering student council representative; Tanner Parker, agricultural technology management, X team, and Justin Schmutz, agricultural technology management, X team co-captain, both from Salina; Tyler Ahring, agricultural technology management, St. George, X team; Aaron Spare, biological systems engineering, St. John, A team treasurer; Curtis Doughramaji, biological systems engineering, Topeka, X team; Peter Masters, biological systems engineering, Troy, A team; and Landon Becker, biological systems engineering, Wichita, X team.
From out of state:
Mark Duncan, agricultural technology management, A team, and Josh Medeiros, agricultural technology management, A team, both from Modesto, California; Alexander Nytko, biological systems engineering Roscoe, Illinois, X team; Tyler Siebels, agricultural technology management, Council Bluffs, Iowa, A team president; Lucas Weller, biological systems engineering, Rayville, Missouri, A team engineering student council representative; and Jason Scheer, biological systems engineering, Gretna, Nebraska, X team.
