Skip to Main Content

Purdue team drives home winner of ¼-scale tractor competition

Teams from Purdue University have historically done very well at the prestigious American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers ¼-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, but the top prize has proved elusive.

Until this year.

The Purdue team was named overall winner of the competition, held June 1-4 in Peoria, Illinois, earning a $1,500 cash prize and $2,000 in scholarships.

The team consisted of seniors Austin Bossaer (Attica), Derek Franke (Monroeville), Austin Franz (Monroeville), Zach Hurd (West Lafayette) and James Marschand (Connersville); junior Joshua Nurrenbern (Haubstadt); and sophomores Julian Halicki (New Castle), Eric Kong (Spencer), William Malecki (LaCrosse), Mitchell Moore (Plymouth) and Brian Sipkema (Fair Oaks).

“We’ve had multiple top-five finishes over the years but it is nice to finally be champions,” said John Lumkes, professor of agricultural and biological engineering and team adviser.

The competition, held annually since 1998, is designed to offer engineering students with a practical design, manufacturing and sales experience. Each team is provided with a 31-horsepower engine and a set of tires then required to design and build their own frame, drivetrain, hitch, clutch, weight brackets and other parts.

The entire process takes about six months, with the students devoting as much as 10 hours per week to the project.

A panel of industry experts evaluates each entry on innovation, maneuverability, serviceability, safety, sound level and ergonomics. Teams must also submit a written design report. Finally, the students must “sell” their design in a formal presentation to industry experts.

“There is growing concern that students are entering the job market without a lot of practical experience,” Lumkes said. “This competition is unique in that it gives students a chance to learn by doing.”

During the competition each vehicle is tested in three events designed to measure performance, durability and maneuverability. The Purdue team took first place in both performance and maneuverability and second in durability.

“It was an impressive performance across the board,” Lumkes said. “The students excelled in a number of areas, including communication, teamwork, research and development and time management, skills that are essential for success in the modern engineering job market.”

Lumkes said the competition was especially challenging this year, with 31 teams representing top engineering colleges from the United States, Canada and Israel.

“We’re honored to win this, given the quality of the competition and the quality of our competitors,” said team member James Marschand.

Austin Bossaer, a 2017 Purdue University graduate, prepares to pilot his team’s entry in the 2017 ASABE ¼-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. The Purdue team was named overall winner of the competition, held June 1-4 in Peoria, Illinois. (Photo provided by John Lumkes) Austin Bossaer, a 2017 Purdue University graduate, prepares to pilot his team’s entry in the 2017 ASABE ¼-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. The Purdue team was named overall winner of the competition, held June 1-4 in Peoria, Illinois. (Photo provided by John Lumkes)

Featured Stories

Piglets
Combined microbiome datasets yield accurate prediction of animal ages

An analysis combining the results of 14 studies from around the globe has uncovered some common...

Read More
A hand holding two eggs
Rehabilitation through agricultural skills with Purdue Farmer-to-Farmer Trinidad and Tobago

Gardening and poultry care are sometimes seen as trendy hobbies in the U.S., but in Trinidad and...

Read More
Claire King waters her quinoa in the greenhouse.
Claire King named a Golden Opportunity Scholar

It’s easy to imagine the whole of agriculture as a giant feast sprawled out on an equally...

Read More
Logos for the American Fisheries Society, Society of American Forestry and The Wildlife Society conventions/conferences
FNR Research Was Well-Represented at Fall Organizational Conferences

Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources and the cutting-edge research being performed by its...

Read More
corn silk
Understanding Black Layer Formation in Corn

The use of the term “black layer” is often a universal method among farmers and...

Read More
corn silk
Paying Attention to In-Season Nitrogen Timing is Important when following a Rye Cover Crop

Managing and maintaining a high-yielding corn crop following a cereal rye cover crop can often be...

Read More
To Top