LHS grad on international winning tractor design team
Luverne native JJ Dooyema is a member of the South Dakota State University 1/4 Scale Tractor Team that is champion of the 2022 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition.
This year’s team competed against 24 teams from across the United States and Canada.
At the beginning of the school year, each team is given a 31-hp Briggs & Stratton engine and a set of Titan tires, which they design their tractor around.
At the competition, tractors are judged by a panel of industry experts based on innovation, manufacturability, serviceability, safety, sound level and ergonomics.
The tractor is first evaluated in a technical inspection process where industry engineers seek to ensure the tractors comply with competition safety and design rules.
The tractor is then put to the test through a maneuverability course, durability course, and a tractor pull. Additionally the team gives a formal design presentation explaining various aspects of the tractor’s design to industry judges.
“From an engineering standpoint, this competition gives five key learning opportunities for our future careers: design, technical writing, testing, manufacturing and marketing,” said Ty Grone, 1/4 scale tractor team co-captain.
“This competition prepares us, coming out of college, to move into industry with those skills.”
Dooyema, son of Doug and Pam Dooyema, Luverne, is majoring in agricultural and biosystems engineering at SDSU, Brookings, South Dakota.
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