The 14th annual Blinn College Ag Mechanics Project Show drew more than 200 entries from 75 schools around the state Wednesday at the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex.
Brian Muzny, Mia Carrola, Logan Bourgeois, Brandon Spreen and Jarrett Reynolds from Kendall County FFA were named grand champions for their maroon 35-foot lowboy gooseneck trailer with hydraulic ramps. Luke Tinsley from the Gonzales FFA was named reserve champion for his work on an 826 International Gold Demonstrator tractor.
The more than 200 projects mark an all-time best for the show. The top three entries in each division received Blinn scholarships.
“The show continues to grow in popularity each year,” said Johnnie Schroeder, show co-founder and Agricultural Sciences instructor.
The show featured projects developed and designed by students in high school FFA chapters and county 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 W.J. “Bill” 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.
Registration is currently open for Blinn’s May minimester, Summer and Fall semesters. For enrollment information and to learn about financial aid opportunities, visit: www.blinn.edu.
Blinn College Ag Mechanics Project Show Results:
Wildlife contest winners – high teams and high individuals
1st – team | Ganado | 1st – individual | Garrett Pouhak | Florence |
2nd – team | Florence | 2nd – individual | Zach Wallace | Tatum |
3rd – team | Tatum | 3rd – individual | Tanner Sexton | Tidehaven |
Horticulture contest winners – high teams and high individuals
1st – team | Dulles | 1st – ind. | Jonah Lumpe | Dulles |
2nd – ind. | Madison Mican | Weimar | ||
3rd – ind. | Micaela Mangum | Weimar |
Welding contest winners:
1st place | Ryan Villarreal | Magnolia |
2nd place | Rodrigo Costilla | Rockdale |
3rd place | Jonah Lumpe | Dulles |
Turbo torch contest winners:
1st place | Nathan Cervenka | Rudder |
2nd place | Rylee Pond | Tatum |
Ag Machinery & Equipment Classes:
1st | Cody Stovall | Hallsville FFA | 3-pt. mounted hydraulic tractor blade |
2nd | Dawsen Davis, James Almond, Austin Sims and Hunter Groze | Columbia-Brazoria FFA | Motorized trailer dolly |
3rd | Gatlin Peters, Tanna Cupps, Tylor Raines and Guthrie Peters | Priddy FFA | Hydrabed |
Livestock & Equipment Classes:
1st | Pate Neyland, Will Phillips, Stephen Commander and Dylan Smithman | Franklin FFA | Portable cattle working chute & loading ramp |
2nd | Wyatt Pavlicek, Jeremy Pillack and Joe Phillips | Madisonville FFA | Hoof trimming table |
3rd | Trace Grigg and Grant Prejean | Franklin FFA | Cattle mineral feeder |
Trailer Classes:
1st | Brian Muzny, Mia Carrola, Logan Bourgeois, Brandon Spreen and Jarrett Reynolds * | Kendall County FFA | 35-foot lowboy gooseneck trailer with hydraulic ramps |
2nd | Kyle Carmack | Willis FFA | 24-foot aluminum gooseneck livestock trailer |
3rd | Grant Reed | Belton FFA | 24-foot gooseneck cattle trailer |
Recreation Classes:
1st | Shane Kent, Blaine Sloan and Kaden Kumler | Savoy FFA | Towable smoker |
2nd | Ty Hill | Georgetown FFA | Bar-b-que pits/firepits |
3rd | Jordan Rickaway and Victor Ramirez | Tidehaven FFA | Observation tower |
Engine Classes:
1st | Luke Tinsley** | Gonzales FFA | 826 International Gold Demonstrator |
2nd | Ryan Rakowitz and Jandro Baker | Floresville FFA | 1957 Oliver Super 55 |
3rd | Corey Verstraeten | Southwest FFA | 1947 Farmall B |
*Grand champion
**Reserve grand champion
PHOTO – From left to right: Brian Muzny, Mia Carrola, Logan Bourgeois, Brandon Spreen and Jarrett Reynolds of Kendall County FFA were named grand champions of the 2015 Blinn College Agricultural Mechanics Show Wednesday for their 35-foot lowboy gooseneck trailer with hydraulic ramps.