The South Dakota State University Quarter Scale Tractor Team is revving up to defend their title in Peoria, Illinois, later this year.
After their victory last year, the team now aims to secure a back-to-back championship, a feat that would mark a new milestone.
Hosted by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), the annual Quarter Scale Tractor Competition challenges teams to design and construct a quarter-scale tractor from scratch. The competition evaluates the performance of these tractors across various tests mimicking real-world agricultural scenarios.
Philip Black, president of the Quarter Scale Tractor Club, explained the events that make up the competition.
“We first go through inspections, then we present our tractor to the judges and conduct a formal presentation,” Black said. “Afterward, we begin the performance events, including maneuverability, durability and a tractor pull.”
These events include different obstacles and scenarios in which the tractor is judged and scored. Additionally, the team has the opportunity to bring back their winning tractor to compete in the X-class.
Jayden Estebo, a junior agricultural and biosystems engineering student, elaborated on the X-class saying, “We made improvements to last year’s design; this is aimed at providing freshmen with a learning experience on how to enhance and establish the old tractor before taking on our new builds.”
Black emphasized that the X-class serves as a valuable learning opportunity for new members before they embark on constructing the A-class (new) tractor.
Despite having dedicated meetings twice a week, team members are consistently found in the shop, working on the tractor whenever they get the chance.
“Last year’s win set a new standard,” Black said.
The team strives for excellence and to boost its name amongst the many large schools that participate in the competition. Those schools include Iowa State University, Purdue University, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University and more.
As the team sets its sights on victory, they remain open to new recruits as graduating leaders prepare to leave. They want to stress that every major is welcome in the quarter scale tractor club, and that everyone can contribute in important ways.
“This club is open to anyone, and there’s a role for everyone, whether it’s driving the tractor, building, writing the written report, or assisting with 3D modeling,” Black said.
Samuel Nilsson, a sophomore ABE student, said he is excited to make the trip to Peoria with the quarter scale team this summer.
“This will be my first time going to competition with the team, and I cannot wait to see what the other schools have been able to produce,” Nilsson said.
With the competition drawing near, excitement continues to build among team members and supporters alike.
The SDSU Quarter Scale Tractor Team is excited to showcase their ingenuity, determination and their commitment to excellence as they set their sights on back-to-back championships in Peoria, Illinois.