Tractor Club

by ELLA

Students in South Dakota State University’s champion-level quarter-scale tractor club are not only internationally competitive with their machines, but excel above their peers with real-world industry experience.

“I wanted to build things while I was here at college, and the quarter-scale tractor club was the perfect opportunity to also hang out with other ag kids,” Phillip Black, the quarter scale tractor club president and junior ag systems tech major, said. “We’re very hands-on and get things done.”

The nearly 20 members of the quarter-scale tractor team are respon- sible for complete design, fabrication and production of quarter of the size of an industry standard tractor during year. The competition to test their work alongside schools the world takes place June 1-5 in Peoria, Illinois. For SDSU bers, this contest is a multi-year tradition, and they have tional wins. In 2018 and 2022, SDSU had the overall champion and took home both a permanent and traveling trophy.

Douglas Prairie, the club’s adviser and lecturer in the ag and engineering department, said faculty primarily act as a support for the students to help acquire materials and interest new a tractor the during the school from around SDSU team mem- two internachampion tractor and biosystems support system new members.

“The direction of the design of the tractor is by the club members, it’s not like an academic exercise – it’s more like a hobby that you can put on your resume,” Prairie said about why students should join the club. “It can take a fair amount of time but has become a fraternal type organization within our department.”

At the start of the year, all ‘A’ teams are supplied with the same engine and two back tires to start the playing field even. After that, the students must finish all aspects of creating the best machine. There’s also an ‘X’ team that brings back its tractor from the previous competition year with any modifications they made to make it better.

Before the contest begins, contestants must have their tractor approved by a tech inspection which measures all the safety features of the machine. If the tractor is denied, the students must fix whatever safety shortage that was identified and bring it back for re-evaluation before continuing in the contest.

The pulling portion of the contest is worth the most points. Not only does the tractor need to weigh less than 900 pounds on contest day, but one of its challenges is to pull 1,100 and 1,600 pound sleds in a race for the most distance pulled.

The next highest score in the contest is assigned to a 25-page written report and presentation.

Students must write about the ideas they generated and include designs and pictures of the entire process. The idea behind the presentation is for team members to “sell” their tractor to a panel of potential buyers made up of industry leaders.

Other factors of the tractors’ success are measured in their durability and maneuverability. These competitions include a track designed with lots of speed bumps that the tractor must race as many laps around as possible, and another course with poles for the driver to either avoid or specifically knock over.

All aspects of the International Quarter-Scale Tractor competition are representations of real industry needs in farming equipment and is hosted by the American Society of Ag and Biosystems Engineers.

Many students recognize the value of participating and learning these skills while in college and those individuals stand out to companies looking to hire.

“The point [of the contest] is to get relevant industry experience,” Sam Meyer, a sophomore agriculture and biosystems engineer major, said. “We’re literally doing what we’d be doing at our future jobs.”

Students have the opportunity to see their designs, whether good or bad, be brought to life in a real working machine, with equipment and parts supplied by their department and a variety of sponsors.

“The coolest part is we’re not only designing it but building it from the ground up,” Meyer said. “[By writing the paper] you have to justify your designs and explain why someone should buy it.”

Wisconsin native and SDSU student Logan Turgasen personally testifies to the importance of the quarter scale tractor club experience after his first internship at Sage Ag, which set him up for a summer position with John Deere in Moline, Illinois.

“When you tell employers you were on the quarter scale tractor team, it usually gets a reaction,” Turgasen, an ag and biosystems engineering major, said while talking about his experience with industry professionals.

This year, the members are excited to use a 3D printing machine for the first time to improve fabrication of several parts and test their ideas before using the actual material.

The team will again be competing in the international competition in June with high hopes for their new designs to continue the champion tradition.

MASA SCHEIERMAN Sports Reporter

William Kyle III first caught South Dakota State coach Eric Henderson’s attention while playing in a club basketball tournament two years ago.

Now, everyone in the Summit League knows who this true freshman from Bellevue, Nebraska, is thanks to a powerful debut season for the Jackrabbit basketball team.

Kyle and the rest of the SDSU men’s basketball team will be on the court this Saturday in the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls. They await the winner of the No. 7/No. 10 matchup Friday between Kansas City and Omaha.

Kyle is averaging 9.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds a game and is shooting over 50% from field goal range. He has also blocked 38 shots so far this season.

“Defensively, his rim protection is something we haven’t seen here in a long time,” Henderson said. “Offensively, his versatility and his growth, playing with his back to the basket and his ability to pass the basketball is probably what surprised me the most.”

Being new to the Division I level required Kyle to mature faster. There is a big difference between high school and college basketball and the skill, technique and physicality that is needed for the top level is something that usually comes with time.

Luckily, Kyle had the summer to adjust to the quickness of the college game. By working on basic development, getting stronger and gaining weight, Kyle found it easier to hold position and dictate what he wanted to do on the court. Which, at the beginning of summer training, was difficult.

“When I would play this summer I would get punked a little bit just because the other guys were bigger and more experienced than me,” Kyle said. “As I’ve put on a lot more weight, gotten stronger and worked on different moves to score, I definitely got a lot more confident going up against other teams.”

Kyle has gained 18 pounds since the summer. He has continued to maintain and add mass even with the heavy workload on his body.

Building a better physical presence has helped the business economics major compete and hold his own down low. He has also improved in other areas such as protecting his spacing and taking contact through the chest when his opponent is backing him down.

While adapting to the DI level and growing stronger was something that Kyle had to learn, his athleticism came naturally. Whether it is his outrageous vertical that catches your attention or his quickness and tenacity shown on the court, it’s clear Kyle’s versatility is key to his play.

These assets have helped him set the tone on the court. They have created momentum in key moments, which helps impact the team.

“The thing that I think makes the most impact on the team right now is the dynamic plays,” Henderson said. “Whether it’s a really athletic block, which creates a lot of energy for our team, or an emphatic dunk, those are the things that have really helped us and energized our team.”

Kyle III’s skills have improved tremendously, and the support from his team and family has proven to be important. Because this is his first year on the court, he has had to rely on other teammates for guidance and advice.

Luke Appel is a senior who’s redshirting because of an injury. The 6-foot-9 forward has been a huge help in Kyle’s growth. Appel has helped build his confidence and convinced him to trust his moves.

Appel also brings up adjustments that he sees while on the bench and communicates that with Kyle during the game.

“Luke has helped me tremendously,” Kyle said. “At the start of the season, I would find myself nervous and uncomfortable out there. Obviously, with Luke not being able to play, he’s been a huge help mentoring me on the side and telling me what to do in certain moments.”

Not only has Appel helped Kyle grow into the player he is now, but the support from his biggest fan, his dad, has impacted Kyle in many ways.

William Kyle Jr. has always been there for his son. Starting from elementary school and now to college, he can be found courtside videoing every game.

“I can count on my hands how many times I have not been at any of his events,” Kyle Jr. said. “Me being able to be at his games, to support him, video him, and for him to be able to look up in that crowd and see me means a lot to him. But it means the world to me.”

Kyle III uses the film his father records to make him a better basketball player. He critiques and analyzes every play, so the next time he steps on the court, he’s that much better than before.

He also looks forward to the videos so he can hear his dad’s excitement at the end of every clutch play.

The adjustment and growth have been a learning curve for Kyle III. But he wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else.

“As soon as I stepped on campus I felt all the love from the community,” Kyle III said. “Frost Arena is a great environment. All the fans are just great here, and being here has been amazing.”

William Kyle Iii Bio

x Year in school: Freshman x Major: Business economics x Position: Forward x Height: 6’9” x Weight: 215 lbs. x Hometown: Bellevue, Nebraska x Stats: Leads Jacks in blocks (38), third in points (9.5) and rebounds (5.0) per game