NDSU seniors Ben Van Berkom (left) and Scott Drovdal presented the grand champion project during the Agricultural Technology Exposition.

The 75th annual Agricultural Technology Exposition, hosted by the NDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, named Ben Van Berkom and Scott Drovdal as the grand champions this year.

The two NDSU seniors presented their project, “High Capacity Batteries in Agriculture,” during the Feb. 11 event. Van Berkom is a precision agriculture major, while Drovdal is majoring in agribusiness.

During the exposition, students present on a topic related to technology within the agricultural industry.

Van Berkom and Drovdal examined technology advanced by companies such as Bobcat and John Deere in battery-powered equipment. The project explored the advantages and disadvantages of the batteries and specifications on how they operate.

“The biggest learn from it was the fact that there are so many variables that go into electric or battery-powered machinery,” Van Berkom said. “One thing I really enjoyed about this project is the learning I was actually able to do as I presented it. I learned more presenting it than I did while I was preparing it. I thought that was fun. I love learning.”

The exposition also is a great environment to hone presentation skills, he said, and to have balanced conversations.

The Agricultural Technology Expo began in 1948 and is sponsored by the student branch of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Agricultural Systems Management Club. It is the largest student activity in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.

More than $1,500 in scholarships are typically awarded during the event. Scholarships are awarded to the grand champion project, division winners and best freshman project.

Ag Tech Expo winners included:

Machinery

First place - Alex Nelson, “The Weed Zapper”

Second place - Ben Bloom and Jonah Friedrichs, “Case Autonomous Tractor”

Precision Ag

First place - Ty Longtin, “Biometric Sensing Ear Tag”

Second place - Mathew Nepsund, Jacob Vogt and Mathew Heley, “Autonomous Robot for Specialty Crops”

Soil, Water and Environment

First place - Eric Koch, Kyle Senger and Ian Swenson, “Sensors in Agriculture”

Second place - Tate Reichmann, Nicholas Popp and Jack Thompson, “The Future of Irrigation”

Structures, Electrical Power and Processing

First place - Hayden Quittenschreiber, “Ag Optimus System”

Power

First place - Trevor and Daniel Hinkle, “Self-Propelled Beet Lifter”

Senior Design

First place - Kenny Meyer, Kate Wrolson and Jarad Mattis, “Quadtrac Rear Frame Implement Harness Routing”

Second place - Shad Mack, Mason Falk and Wilson Howard, “Amity Crop Chaser”

Champion Freshman Project

Eric Koch, Kyle Senger and Ian Swenson, “Sensors in Agriculture”

Reserve Champion

Eric Koch, Kyle Senger and Ian Swenson, “Sensors in Agriculture”

Grand Champion

Scott Drovdal and Benjamin Van Berkom, “High Capacity Batteries in Agriculture”

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