BLINN COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS PROJECT SHOW
The 16th annual Blinn College Agricultural Mechanics Project Show drew 201 entries from a record-breaking 92 schools around the state Wednesday at the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex.
Payton Bancroft, Raul Rodriguez, and Martin Beltran from Kerens FFA were crowned grand champions for their 36x6.5-foot Gooseneck Cattle Trailer.
“This group put in over 2,500 hours and worked three nights a week apart from school to finish this trailer,” Bancroft said. “We came together and finished the project and we were rewarded because of our hard work.”
Corey Verstraeten from Southwest FFA was named reserve grand champion for his Oliver Tractor.
The show featured projects developed and designed by students in high school FFA chapters and 4-H clubs. Students worked 300-400 hours on some projects, which were then judged on quality and showmanship. Projects included agriculture machinery and equipment; livestock equipment; trailers; recreational items including barbecue pits, picnic tables, metal and wood furniture, entrance gates, deer blinds, animal traps and horticulture products; and engines and reconditioned tractors.
Demonstrations in welding, cutting, and power tools were held throughout the day. The show also included welding, metal cutting, wildlife, and horticulture contests.
The Blinn Agricultural Sciences Program is roughly four times the size of any other two-year agricultural program in the state and offers agriculture classes on all of its campuses, with the Rankin Agricultural Complex serving as the program’s hub.
In addition to its excellence in the classroom, Blinn offers extracurricular educational activities in the areas of livestock judging, agriculture club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, horticulture and agriculture sciences.
The Blinn Agricultural Sciences Department would like to thank its sponsors: Appel Ford, Brenham Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Robs Run Center, Woodson Lumber, LaRoche Chevrolet, ASCO, Tegeler Toyota, Adventure Knives, Miller Welding Supply, Granger, Harris Cutting Tools, and the Blinn College Alumni & Friends Association. Story, photo, and video courtesy of Blinn College.
Blinn College Ag Mechanics Project Show Results:
Welding contest winners:
| 1st place | Alec Bottoms | Dripping Springs |
| 2nd place | Dustin Johannsen | Morton Ranch |
| 3rd place | Luke Moy | Anderson Shiro |
Turbo Torch contest winners:
| 1st place | Rowdy Dunklin | Malakoff |
| 2nd place | Dawson Hering | Rosebud-Lott |
Ag Machinery & Equipment Classes:
| 1st | Wyatt Welch, Frank Moerman, Billy Scheller and Mathew Hamilton | Comanche | 10-foot Scraper for Feed Lanes |
| 2nd | Dawson Hering and Brady Hering | Rosebud-Lott | Fertilizer Applicator |
| 3rd | Griffin Beddingfield | Kilgore | CNC Plasma Table |
Livestock & Equipment Classes:
| 1st | Baker Butler | Glen Rose | 20-foot Gooseneck Pneumatic Feed Transfer |
| 2nd | Jordan Rickaway, Logan Pierce, Seth Stark and Bobby Brune | Tidehaven | 28-foot Cattle Chute |
| 3rd | Mikle Martin and Braxton Anderson | Bosqueville | Round Bale Hay Feeder |
Trailer Classes:
| 1st | Payton Bancroft, Raul Rodriguez and Martin Beltran | Kerens | 36 by 6.5-foot Gooseneck Cattle Trailer |
| 2nd | Anna Hatcher | Forney | 10-foot Bumper Utility Trailer |
| 3rd | Tanner James, Landon James, Dustin Bostick and Josh Johnson | Bangs | 20-foot Bumper Pull Utility Flatbed Trailer |
Recreation Classes:
| 1st | Wesley Adkinson and Dillon Luster | Franklin | Forged Bench |
| 2nd | Aiden Davis and Connor Payne | Bell County | 16-foot Entry Gate |
| 3rd | Lance Ivey | Frankston | 18-foot Dual Smoker with Burners & Wood Storage |
Engine Classes:
| 1st | Corey Verstraeten | Southwest | Oliver Tractor |
| 2nd | Keaton Glass | Gonzales | 1972 IH 1066 |
| 3rd | Cort Morris | Giddings | 1974 IH 1066 |