News : VS FFA team competes in Ag Mechanics event

On June 9, four V-S FFA chapter members went to the Ag 450 Farm at Iowa State University in Ames to compete in state Ag Mechanics.

The team of Grant Ries, George Haefner, Collin Henry, and Jakob Long had to participate in structural system, machinery and equipment system, environment and natural resources, electrical system, metal and welding system and general knowledge examination test. The team placed 17th out of 30 placing them in the silver category.

For structural system, members had to attach two beveled angles of wood together to make a corner. The machinery and equipment systems was where members had to maneuver a skid loader and attach and detach the bucket. For environment and natural resources systems members had to measure and mark a section in an open field area to create a pig pen. Electrical system is where members had to wire an outlet. For the metal and welding systems members had to weld a ring to a flat surface with a MIG welder.

We would like to think Altorfer Caterpillar Dealership out of Cedar Rapids for letting us use their skid loaders to practice before the contest.

-- By Jakob Long co-reporter