The roar of engines drowns out the cheers and applause of the crowd. Exhaust fumes billow and a cloud of dust fills the air as the garden tractor with a mighty pull, lunges its way to victory.

Well, it isn't a typical form of student competition, but when the dust and exhaust fumes settle, a crew of Oklahoma State University biosystems and agricultural engineering majors intensely await the result of their latest competition. 

Revving up for its second year of competition, the OSU American Society of Agricultural Engineers chapter is preparing for the national quarter-scale tractor pull competition, May 22-23 in Moline, Ill.

ASAE initiated the National Student Design Competition last year. Through designing a quarter-scale tractor, students are challenged to harness the power and torque of a specified stock engine in order to maximize performance in the tractor pull.

"Each team is given a 16-horsepower Briggs and Stratton motor and a set of tires and is required to build a frame and tractor," said Jake Holloway, biomechanical option junior. "Our one limitation is that we are supposed to leave the engine completely stock, we aren't allowed to mess with it." 

According to the ASAE Web site, the three main categories in the competition are a written design report, a team presentation and a performance competition. The performance competition is comprised of a multistage tractor pull using a progressive sled.

The ASAE Web site indicates that although the size and shape of the quarter-scale tractor is similar to that of a typical lawn and garden tractor, very few parts will be used directly from a commercial machine. 

The OSU crew obtains all equipment and parts through donations, and monetary donations are always accepted.

"We're getting a brochure together to take to companies for possible sponsorships. We want to look professional and show that we have a purpose," said senior team member Dustin Simmons.

According to ASAE, one of the primary concerns of professionals in the industry today is the lack of practical knowledge or design experience with many engineering students (of all majors) entering the workforce. The organization believes design competitions and projects are important keys to prepare students to be effective professional engineers. 

The crew agrees they gain practical experience and develop skills in communication, leadership, teamwork and fund raising.

"The best way to learn a lot of this stuff is just to experience it," Simmons said. "There's no substitute for the experience. When you can see how something works or doesn't work you can apply that to future projects," Simmons said.

Experience also pays off in the competition itself. Last year, the team competed for the first time, simply testing the water. 

"Last year we didn't know a thing about it, and we learned a lot," Holloway said.

The team came home last year ranked seventh overall but concede they competed without oral or written presentations.

"That's where the rest of the club comes in ó it's a total club effort," Holloway said. 

Other biosystems majors are involved with the competition by assisting with the non-mechanical part of the competition, fund raising and of course, moral support. And this year the crew is ready to compete in all aspects of the competition with both a junior and senior team. 

"The senior team will consist of the crew that competed last year with a new tractor, and the juniors will have last year's tractor at their disposal," Simmons said. "The old tractor is constantly evolving."

The tractor itself serves as a great public relations device for the department, as it has been showcased at the annual Ag Roundup, Homecoming parade and open houses for high school seniors.

"The tractor attracts a lot of attention. When you make lots of noise, they stand up and greet ya," said Chad Fisher, a freshman involved for the first time this year on the junior team.

To help prepare for the big competition in the spring, the crew attends many local tractor pulls in the fall. These are usually only attended by individuals in the Oklahoma Garden Tractor Pullers Association. 

"Since we're the only college team that makes it out, they are real excited to see us and they take care of us," Simmons said.

"OKGTPA changed its rules to accommodate us as a family membership so we all wouldn't have to pay individual dues,î Holloway added. And the crew is just that ó a family.

Time and time again, the crew is reminded of what they are gaining by becoming involved in the competition.

"We apply all the skills we learn in class and gain insight to what we are going to be faced with in the future," Simmons said.

The future is indeed bright for the team whose hopes include becoming design or test engineers for John Deere or Caterpillar. And those companies have nothing to fear when they hire someone with this much experience. 

"Not only will students gain practical design experience by participating in this project, they will also obtain invaluable experience as they manufacture, build and assemble their own designs," boasts the ASAE Web site.

"Many a manufacturing department cringes when design engineers simply throw their designs 'over the wall' and assume they can be easily manufactured. Through hands-on experience with numerous manufacturing processes, students will gain awareness of the capabilities and potential pitfalls in the design for manufacturability and design for assembly."

As for how to get involved, Holloway offers this advice. 

"Just ask - we accept all free labor."

By Cindy Raith

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