National FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event Update

2006-2008 Event Superintendent - Dr. Steven Poe
 

This web site will be updated as information becomes available throughout the year. Any updates made between August and the date of the National FFA Convention will appear in red to highlight the change. If you find a mistake or an electronic reference does not work, please send an email to the appropriate contest associate superintendent and the superintendent.

last updated 7/19/08

Introduction

The changing workplace in America has caused education institutions to reassess the strategies followed when preparing students for their future. To be competitive in the job market a student must be able to access and apply a broad range of information through the use of computers and networks. Today's students must be competent in the management of their resources and they must develop strong interpersonal skills. Students must understand and have experience with complex systems and a variety of technologies.

To effectively prepare students for the agricultural mechanics work environment, the students must acquire knowledge and skills, and develop the ability to solve difficult problems. The agricultural mechanics professional of tomorrow will perform these skills while working with others and apply these skills to a range of systems and technologies that interrelate. The agricultural mechanics profession requires employees to do much more than perform tasks.

The National FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event is designed to recognize those students who have developed the competencies necessary for success in the constantly changing workplace. The traditional knowledge and skills are still a part of agricultural mechanics technical content, but many other abilities are now necessary. Emphasis is placed on the way in which students work with others, access information, solve complex problems, select an appropriate technology, and apply the principles of science. The agricultural mechanics career development event balances problem solving abilities, with knowledge, skills, and experience. These abilities are evaluated for students working together as a team and for each student working independently.

Content Areas for the Event
 
 

The career development event will be developed from the following subject matter topics described under the five systems areas listed below.

LAPTOP COMPUTER RECOMMENDATION FOR 2008:

Beginning 2005, it was REQUIRED that each team has a laptop computer and printer. Please understand that the National FFA will no longer provide computers for this activity, so teams without this equipment are placing themselves at an extreme disadvantage. Teams should bring two laptop computers and one or two portable printers. The two computers will allow more than one team member to work on the team report at the same time and provides a backup in the event of a computer failure. The laptops must be IBM compatible and have a compact disk. Laptop computers that are several years old (5+) will present a disadvantage to students. A compact disk will be used to provide information for the team activity. The large computer files and graphics on the compact disk will operate very slowly on older operating systems and sometimes will lockup the software, requiring the computer to be rebooted. To summarize, each team is REQUIRED to bring their computers for use in the 2007 team activity.

Computer Equipment Checklist:

  • Computer can read a compact disk (CD).
  • The computer should be loaded with Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Reader or their equivalent. Files may be provided in any or all of these formats.
  • Computer should be TESTED with the printer prior to the contest. Note: The security settings on some computers may prevent configuration by regular users. To provide maximum flexibility during the contest it is recommended that security be relaxed or a admin login be required.
  • Double check that paper, cables, and power supplies are included in your equipment.
  • Team members should be familiar with basic word processing and spreadsheet functions. These are skills commonly needed in industry and are useful in this event.

    • During the 2007 team activity, each team will be issued two compact disks (one for each computer allowed). The compact disk will have the instructions and information specific to the activity and the final report will be typed and printed. Each team will use their printer(s) to printout the final report and any other information needed from the computer's hard drive or the compact disks. Teams may save any information they wish on the hard drive of their computers and they may access and use this information during the team activity.

    Please Note: Teams may save any information they wish on the hard drive of their computers and they may access and use this information during the team activity. Students will NOT be allowed to bring any external storage medium (Compact Disks, zip disks, floppies, etc.) to the team activity. Students will NOT be allowed to establish a connection to the internet during the event.
     
     

    SAFETY GLASSES ARE REQUIRED

    All team members must wear safety glasses during the team and skill events. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession. Each year there are individuals and teams that arrive for Wednesday's team activity and/or Thursday's skill activities without safety glasses. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession.

    USE OF HAND CALCULATORS

    Each team member will need a calculator to complete the multiple-choice examination on Wednesday and the skill activates on Thursday. Students will not be allowed to share a calculator during the examination on Wednesday or during the skill activities on Thursday. The team activity will also require calculators, but team members may share them during this activity.
     

    Event Theme for 2008:

    PROCESSING SYSTEMS

    This is the emphasis area for the 2008 National FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event.
     

    2008 Structural Systems Activities

    All students must wear safety glasses during the skill activities. To enter the CDE area students must have safety glasses in their possession. Contestants must bring a serviceable welding helmet and leather welding gloves and they must wear appropriate clothing and footwear for welding.

    This year contestants will be required to read and interpret a working drawing and then utilize a selected arc welding process to fabricate or repair a mild steel part. Please check back frequently for additional updates.

    Suggested References:

    Textbooks:

  • Modern Welding, Althouse, Turnquist, Bowditch and Bowditch, published by Goodheart-Willcox
  • The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding, published by The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

    • Other textbooks will be announced as they are identified.

    Other Reference Material:

  • 'No Teacher Left Behind,' a CD training set available free of charge from Lincoln Electric Technical Training Department, www.lincolnelectric/teachers.

    • Other references will be announced as they are identified.

    Associate Superintendent: Dr. Craig Morton, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, Telephone 1.936.468.3705. Email: rangermorton1972@yahoo.com


     

    2008 Machine & Equipment Systems Activities

    All students must wear safety glasses during the skill activities. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession.

    The Machine Systems Skill activity will be looking at the harvesting/ processing of bio-materials as an alternative fuel source.  The skill activity might include the selection, sizing, adjusting, maintenance, etc., of a CNH round baler.   The New Holland model is the BR7060 Silage Special w/CropCutter and the CIH models are RB454 Rotor Cutter Silage.  Both units are capable of producing 4' width x 5' diameter round bales.

    The skill activities will be generic and any specific information required for the skill activity will be provided at the event.

    Suggested References:

    Reference material will include CNH brochures, operators manuals, manufacturers web sites, etc.

    Textbooks:

    No textbooks have been identified at this time.  As always, textbooks will be announced as they are identified.

    Other Reference Material:

    NH:  www.newholland.com/na

    CIH: www.caseih.com/na

    These two web addresses will take the viewer to the respective home page of each site.  From here, select "Products/haying equipment/round balers to access the specific product information literature and specs.  This will provide you with the most current information about each baler.

    Still other websites / references to review include:
    Other references will be announced as they are identified.
     

    Associate Superintendent: Dr. Mack Strickland, Purdue University, Telephone 1.765.494.1222, Email: strick@ecn.purdue.edu


     

    2008 Environment and Natural Resource Systems Skills

    All students must wear safety glasses during the skill activities. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession.

     The problem solving/skills in the Environment and Natural Resource Systems area will primarily concentrate on irrigation, water movement through piping, and choosing/comparing pump specifications. Students should be able to calculate area, volume, and convert units such as cubic feet, gallons, feat of head, psi. Topics include pipe sizing, flow rates, pressure loss due to friction and impact of elevation change on static pressure. Deposition rates, evapotranspiration, irrigation scheduling, and deposition patterns from sprinklers may be involved in the activity. has not yet been determined by the committee.  As soon as more is established, this information will be posted to the website.  Please check back frequently for updates.

    Textbooks:

    Principles of Irrigation by Irrigation Association, 2003. Private Water Systems Handbook, MWPS-14, 1992.

    Other Reference Material:

    Website: Irrigation Association - http://www.irrigation.org/

    Other references will be announced as they are identified.

     

    Associate Superintendent: Dr. Douglas Kingman, Huntsville, TX, Telephone 1.936.294.1215, Email: dougkingman@shsu.edu


    2008 Industry and Marketing Skill Activity

    2008 Industry and Marketing Skill Activity

    No palm pilot (PDA) and cell phone devices will be allowed in the contest area. The activity will involve problem solving and calculations. A calculator is recommended.

    The activity will involve skills commonly used to choose, assemble, or repair processing systems equipment. The focus will be on electric, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic systems commonly found used for process control. Contestants should be able to use specification sheets, common tables (ex. wire size), and parts and repair manuals. The activity may involve reading a plan with common symbols, creating repair orders, parts lists, repair cost estimates, maintenance schedules, and/or determine component specifications. An understanding of the relationships between hydraulic flow, pressure, horsepower, force, and speed will be necessary for successful component selection. (NOTE: formulas will be provided, but contestants will be expected to choose the appropriate formulas from a list.) Skill area will not require any specific knowledge of the specific equipment used, but rather focus on the process.

    Some examples might be (but activity will not be limited to):

    Suggested References for Activity:

    Review the general references for the CDE. In addition the links below may help prepare for the activity. Manufacturer.s web sites are a rich source of component specifications. The sites listed below are on a few of many examples.

    Suggested References for Written Test:

    Notes to Coaches:

    1. It is recommended that you review the competencies listed Industry and Marketing CDE rules.
    2. The references listed above are general in nature and should be used as references for the competencies not study guides.

     

    Associate Superintendent: Dr. Mike Spiess, California State University, Chico, Telephone 1.530.898.4554 Email: mspiess@csuchico.edu

    2008 Energy Systems Activities

    All students must wear safety glasses during the skill activities. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession.

    The problem solving/skills in the Energy Systems will involve the operation, installation, maintenance, and/or repair of 120/ 240 volt Single Phase Alternating Current Electrical Systems, Electric Motors and Controls and/or electrical equipment associated with Processing Systems.  ***(See specific areas encompassed below)

    (From 2006-2010 National CDE Handbook) http://www.ffa.org/programs/cde/  - Download CDE Handbook- Scroll to page 43.

    Students may be expected to:

    Energy Systems Competencies-Problem Solving

    (Numbers match numbers in Bulletin)

    23. Use appropriate standards for agricultural application, including the National Electrical Code (NEC), Electrical Testing Laboratory
          (ETL), Factory Mutual, Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Canadian Standard Association (CSA) and/or OSHA standards.
    24. Plan safe electrical circuits.
    25. Select conductor type and size for specific applications.
    26. Calculate voltage drop.
    27. Determine electrical power requirements.
    28. Identify the characteristics of single and three-phase circuits.
    29. Plan and evaluate proper grounding systems and ground-fault protection.
    30. Determine volt, amp and ohm relationships (Ohm's and other application laws).
    31. Select adequate and appropriate lighting fixtures.
    32. Make connections in a computer-simulated wiring task.
    33. Select motors based upon type of application.
    34. Interpret electric motor nameplate data.
    35. Service electric motors.
    36. Identify electric motors and motor parts.
    37. Identify methods of providing electric motor protection.
    38. Interpret power (horsepower, kilowatt), power factor, torque and other motor selection criteria.
    41. Interpret wiring diagrams.
    42. Identify and describe basic principles of controls including thermostats; humidistat; photoelectric; magnetic relays; programmable
          controllers; proximity switches and sensors; ultrasonics; timers and other time-delay equipment; and pressure, motion, limit, float
          and sail switches.
    43. Select controls from supply catalogs, microforms, microfiche or computers.
    44. Select controls for electrical applications.
    45. Use low-voltage electrical control equipment.
    46. Identify and select devices for automated systems.
    51. Use safe wiring practices for specific applications.

     

    Energy Systems – Skills

    (Numbers match numbers in Bulletin)

    20. Read schematics and sketch wiring circuits.
    21. Attach conductors to terminals.
    22. Install plugs and cord connector bodies.
    23. Make proper splices and connections.
    24. Troubleshoot electrical circuits using proper testing equipment and measuring devices.
    25. Measure electrical circuits for voltage, amperage, resistance and wattage.
    26. Install service entrance for single phase 120/240 V service or three-phase power.
    27. Wire 120/240V service outlets.
    28. Install electrical circuits, switching devices and appliances.
    29. Install ground-fault circuit interrupters.
    30. Make connections in a computer-simulated wiring task.
    31. Troubleshoot electric motor circuits using proper testing equipment.
    32. Connect a dual voltage motor to power source.
    33. Change the direction of electric or hydraulic motor-rotation.
    34. Disassemble and reassemble an electric motor.
    35. Provide suitable motor over-current protection.
    36. Service and lubricate and electric motor.
    37. Check the running amperage and voltage of a motor.
    38. Select and mount an electric motor on a machine.
    39. Connect electric motor controls.
    40. Install timer circuits and automation devices.
    41. Install thermal and solid-state delay/relay controls.
    42. Install a low-voltage motor control system.
    43. Install sensing devices including thermostats, humidistat; photoelectric; magnetic relays; programmable
          controllers; proximity switches and sensors; ultrasonics; timers and other time delay equipment; and
          pressure, motion, limit, float and sail switches.

    Suggested References:

    -2008 National Electric Code

    ·          http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1
    ·          http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/product.asp?pid=70HB05&order_src=A291
    ·          http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/product.asp?pid=70E04&order_src=A291


    -Agricultural Wiring Handbook: (14th edition) (15th edition if becomes available)

    ·           http://www.nfec.org/material_to_order/electricalwiring.htm

     
    -Electrical Wiring for Livestock and Poultry Structures

    ·           http://www.nfec.org/material_to_order/electricalwiring.htm

     
    -AAVIM

     Electrical Wiring Text: Ninth Edition/ISBN 0-89606-385-2.              No. 305.6W (Text)
    Electrical Wiring CD-ROM Test Bank.                                            No. 305SWCD.6W  
    Understanding Electricity Text. ISBN 0-89606-357-7.                     No. 303.6W (book)
    Understanding Electricity CD-ROM TEST BANK.            No. 303SWCD.6W (each)
    Electrical Controls Text, Second Edition, ISBN 0-89606-339-9.       No. 306.6W (manual)
    Electrical Controls. Supporting Software.                                 No. 306CD.6W (CD-ROM)
    Basics of Basics of Electric Motors Text. ISBN 0-89606-360-7.     No. 301.6W Text

     

    -Agricultural Mechanics Fundamentals & Applications, Herrin and Cooper, 5th edition, Delmar Publishing,

     ISBN 0766814106 

    Other references will be announced as they are identified

    Associate Superintendent: Mr. Von G. Peavy, Telephone 1.229.386.3868, Fax 1.229.391.6838 Email: vpeavy@doe.k12.ga.us


     

    2008 Team Activity - PROCESSING SYSTEMS

    All team members must wear safety glasses during the team event. To enter the CDE area, students must have safety glasses in their possession.

    Team members will work together to complete the activity in two hours. This team event is worth 250 points. If a team member exhibits or performs any unsafe practice, points will be deducted from the total team score.

    Equipment Provided: This has not yet been decided.

    Equipment that the Team MUST provide: Teams will be expected to provide safety glasses, appropriate personal protective clothing, a laptop computer capable of reading CD's and a printer with cable.

    Description of Team Activity: Team Activity will focus on pneumatics/hydraulics. Students should have knowledge and theory of basic components of a pneumatics/hydraulics system including: valves, pump, cylinders, actuators, circuits, and circuit symbols.

    Please understand that the Associate Supt. reserves the right to make necessary changes to this activity based on the availability of materials and resources to successfully conduct this activity.

    The students will be provided with the references and an answer sheet via digital media (ie. floppy, zip, USB drive or CD) that will work with the lap top computer that they bring with them.

    Suggested References:

    Textbooks:

    Textbooks will be announced as they are identified.

    Other Reference Material:

    Links to references...
  • http://www.linnbenton.edu/auto/day/mike/read.html
  • http://www.precisionmeasure.com/microm1.htm
    • Other references will be announced as they are identified.

    Associate Superintendent: Dr. Ed Franklin, Telephone: 1.520.940.3718, Email: eafrank@ag.arizona.edu


     

    The five year rotating schedule beginning with the year 2008:

     
    YEAR
    EVENT THEME
    2008
    Processing Systems
    2009
    Plant Production Systems
    2010
    Integrated Pest Management
    2011
    Animal Production Systems
    2012
    		 Material Handling Systems


     

    SUGGESTED GENERAL REFERENCES

  • D. M. Johnson, J. Harper, D.E. Lawver & P. Buriak. Mechanical Technology in Agriculture, Prentice Hall, 2001
  • The National Fire Protection Association. National Electric Code, 2002.
  • Ray V. Herren and Elmer L. Cooper. Agricultural Mechanics Fundamentals & Applications, 4th edition, Delmar Publishing.

    •  

    If you have concerns about specific references that will be used, please contact the respective Associate Superintendent.


     
     
    Dr. Steven Poe
    2006-2008 Event Superintendent
    University of Arizona University
    PO Box 929, Ag 103
    Yuma, AZ 85366-0926
    928-317-6418 (voice)
    928-344-7579 (fax)
    spoe@ag.arizona.edu (email)

     
     

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