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June 07, 2007
4-H Rocketry Clubs Compete for National Title
THE PLAINS, Va.—On Saturday, May 19, four 4-H clubs gathered in The Plains, Va., to compete in the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), the premier national rocketry competition co-sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and National Association of Rocketry (NAR).
With only 100 teams selected nationwide to compete, 4-H showed some clover pride on the field. The four clubs, the Dakota County 4-H Federation of Farmington, Minn., the Hearty Homers 4-H Club of Cottage Grove, Minn., the Washington County 4-H Club of Slinger, Wisc., and the Flying Tigers 4-H Aerospace Club of Germantown, Md., were charged with the mission to design and build a model rocket carrying one hen egg that would fly to exactly 850 feet, stay aloft for exactly 45 seconds and return to the ground with the egg intact.
The 4-H teams performed exceptionally well with all teams finishing in the top 55 and two teams finishing in the top 20. Two teams also received special awards. The Washington County 4-H Club received the “most innovative approach to the mission” award presented by Lockheed Martin Corporation, and The Dakota County 4-H Foundation was presented with the “best rocket recovery effort” from Parker Aerospace.
The 4-H teams had the opportunity to meet many leaders in the aerospace industry. In attendance were Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Dr. Buzz Aldrin, who made the historic Apollo XI moon landing with Neil Armstrong. All the 4-H members had a moment to spend some time with Buzz Aldrin, and one of the 4-H teams met with Secretary Gates as he signed their rocket.
During the awards ceremony, Byron Garrett, National 4-H Program Leader for National 4-H Headquarters, USDA, and Mark Bundick, president of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), announced a new partnership between the two organizations. Over the next 5 years, NAR will commit 20 percent of its 5,000 membership to the goal of starting new 4-H clubs across the country focused on aerospace and rocketry.
This partnership is a great step forward as 4-H prepares to meet it's goal of reaching 1 million new students through the 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (4-H SET) Mission Mandate by 2013. To learn more about 4-H SET, click here, or to view more photos from the TARC event, click here.
The Flying Tigers 4-H Aerospace Club of Maryland poses with their rocket prior to launch.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signs the Washington County 4-H club’s rocket.
The four 4-H teams meet with Dr. Buzz Aldrin.
Byron Garrett, National 4-H Program Leader for National 4-H Headquarters, USDA, announces new partnership between 4-H and NAR.
Posted in category 4-H Stories at 06:23 PM