2009 National FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event Update

2009-2011 Event Superintendent – Von G. Peavy
 

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 9/21/09

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.

• Machinery & Equipment Systems- repair, maintenance, processing, materials handling, adjustments
• Marketing/Information Systems- customer relations, accounting, communication, economics, safety, service calls, reading and understanding labels
• Energy Systems- mechanical power, electrical power, chemical power, wind power, solar power
• Structural Systems- storage, handling, disposal, concrete, plumbing, structural material selection, heating, ventilation, air conditioning
• Environmental/Natural Resource Systems- water quality, material compatibility, soil and water conservation, disposal of waste

Information / Rules for the Event

Click here to review the rules for the event!

General Rules for the Event

LAPTOP COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS FOR 2009:

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 able to read HTML, Adobe Acrobat 6.0 (PDF) or higher, MS-Excel, and MS-Word 2003 of higher files from a a compact disk (CD). 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 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.

NOTE: Use caution when shipping or checking as baggage printers as they may be easily damaged. It is highly recommended that all equipment be tested after arriving in Indianapolis and before arriving at the CDE.


• Double check that paper, cables, and power supplies are included in your equipment.
• Team members should be familiar with basic functions of the required software. These are skills commonly needed in industry and are useful in this event.

During the 2009 team activity, each team will be given a compact disk for their computer(s). 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. Students connecting to the Internet will be disqualified from 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 2009:

PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

This is the emphasis area for the 2009 National FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event.
 

2009 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 leather welding gloves and they must wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hot metal work.

Suggested References:

Other Reference Material:

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

2009 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 use a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle and a piece of equipment.

The skill activity could involve one or more of the following when interacting with a towed or mounted piece of equipment:

Please check back for more information at a later date.

Suggested References:

Reference material will include industry websites as well as brochures, operators manuals, and related technical information.

John Deere website:
    http://johndeere.com/en_US/deerecom/usa_canada.html

The website for the Gator Manual is:
    http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM157849_A9/Output/Index.html?tM=FR

Textbooks:

·        No textbooks have been identified.  Textbooks will be announced as they are identified.

Other Reference Material:

·        No other reference material has been identified.  Other references will be announced as they are identified.

Associate Superintendent: Dr. Mack Strickland, Purdue University, Telephone 1.765-494-1162, Email: strick@purdue.edu

2009 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.

Draft Skill 2009 - Environment and Natural Resources

Skill Topic:
Calibration and Evaluation of Dry Material or Spray Distribution System Equipment: The student should be familiar with seeders/spreaders such as the one pictured below and those used for liquid application systems.

References:

Textbooks:

Other Reference Material:

Procedures will be adapted from the following ASABE Standards:

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

2009 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 highly recommended.

The area might use machinery and equipment common to growing crops or irrigation (including turf) to test the following skills listed in the CDE.

    * 4. Compare costs of ownership, lease, rental and custom agreements.
    * 7. Use of operator.s manuals.
    * 8. Identify safe machinery operating practices.
    * 9. Select machinery parts using manufacturer.s catalogs, microforms, microfiche or computers.
    * 11. Determine finance and insurance needs.
    * 13. Read and interpret drawings, plans, symbols and figuring of bill of materials.

Focus of activity will be on pumping water.  Contestants should be prepared to:

    * Determine pumping costs (both variable and fixed)
    * Determine pumping efficiencies
    * Read and interpret pump specifications
    * Convert between common units of power and volume

Suggested References for Activity:

Review the general references for the CDE. In addition the links below may help prepare for the activity.

Suggested References for Written Test:

Notes to Coaches:

·        It is recommended that you review the competencies listed Industry and Marketing CDE rules.

·        The references listed above are general in nature and should be used as references for the competencies not study guides

Associate Superintendent: Dr. Don Johnson, University of Arkansas, 1.479-575-2039 Email:dmjohnson@uakr.edu

2009 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 Energy Systems Skill activity will use the following equipment:

Model # DWD215G  Mid Handle ½. VSR Drill with Keyless Chuck
10 Amps
0-1,200 RPM
980 Max Watts Out
5.2 Lbs

Students will also be expected to operate an electrical multi-meter to measure voltage and operating amperage of power equipment.

 

Please check back for information at a later date.

Textbooks:

·        No textbooks have been identified.  Textbooks will be announced as they are identified.

Associate Superintendent:  Dr. Steve Poe, Telephone 1.520-621-5879, Fax 1.229.391.6838 Email: spoe@ag.arizona.edu  

2009 Team Activity – PLANT PRODUCTION 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:

Equipment provided by the Team: Equipment provided by the Team: Equipment that the Team MUST provide: Teams will be expected to provide appropriate personal protective clothing, a laptop computer with Adobe Reader (version 6 or higher) capable of reading CD's, HTML, and pdf documents, and a printer and cartridge, power cable, and connecting cable. Teams will be expected to test their laptop computer and printer compatibility BEFORE the Team Activity. The students will be provided with the references and an answer sheet via CD that will work with the lap top computer that they bring with them.

Description of Team Activity:

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:

Other Reference Material:

Links to references:

·          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 2009:

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.

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