BLINN INVITES CONTESTANTS FOR THE AG MECHANICS SHOW
The Blinn College District Agricultural Sciences Program invites Texas FFA and 4-H members to enter their projects in the 18th annual Blinn College District Ag Mechanics Project Show to be held Wednesday, April 24, at the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex on the Blinn-Brenham Campus.
Registration is $40 per project for those who register by Friday, April 12, and $50 per project for those who register after that date. In addition to the project show, the event features cutting and welding competitions. Registration for each competition is $15 and limited to the first 50 students.
The show features projects developed and designed by students in high school FFA chapters and county 4-H clubs. Students work 300-400 hours on some projects, which then are judged on workmanship, design, degree of difficulty, showmanship, and documentation, including pictures of each step.
Projects include agricultural machinery and equipment, livestock equipment, trailers, barbecue pits, picnic tables, metal and wood furniture, entrance gates, deer blinds, animal traps and horticulture products, engines, and reconditioned tractors and restored equipment.
Projects will be judged in six divisions: agriculture machinery and equipment, livestock and equipment, small and large trailers, recreation, and engines. High school seniors in each division will be awarded a Blinn scholarship if they place in the top three. There also will be an on-site welding contest at 1 p.m. and cutting torch contest at 2 p.m.
Last year, the Project Show drew 173 entries from 80 high school FFA chapters and county 4-H clubs around the state. Richard Lee Schilling of Fayetteville FFA was crowned grand champion for his 1960 John Deere 435 tractor.
Online registration and additional information are available at www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences/agriculture-mechanics.html. 4-H members should contact Rocksann Marburger at Rocksann.marburger@blinn.edu or 979-830-4198 to register.
The Agricultural Sciences Program is one of the fastest-growing and largest divisions in the Blinn College District. Enrollment in Blinn agriculture classes tops more than 700 students each semester. Blinn offers agriculture classes on all of its campuses, with the hub of the program located at the W.J. "Bill" Rankin Agricultural Complex on the Brenham Campus.
Agriculture at Blinn is an academically driven program providing accredited courses that can lead to an associate degree and transfers to major universities. Blinn is an active member of the Agriculture Consortium of Texas and maintains close associations with department heads and representatives from all Texas agriculture universities to ensure a smooth transition for its students.
The Agriculture Sciences Program has one of the most active extracurricular programs in the state. Blinn offers educational activities in the areas of livestock judging, the Agriculture Club, wildlife, agriculture mechanics, horticulture, and agriculture sciences. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences. Story and photo courtesy of Blinn College.