Ag Mechanics – Welding

This page is your source for information about the STEM Ag Mechanics project. Some know this as welding, brazing, or smithing. Yes, if you are a youth interested in these areas, you can find information about it here.

For 2026 we are allowing exhibits of all sizes in Ag Mechanics. Chances are if they require a trailer to get to the fair (or the exhibit its self is a trailer) they will be displayed outside. You must contact the State 4-H office no later than August 23rd if your exhibit is larger than five feet in any dimension.

Per rule 21: “Each exhibit, except for display boards, must include an Ag Mechanics
information packet.”

Things of note for 2026:

  • We have changed Brazing from a primary category to Other Metalwork, this primary category covers both brazing and other metal work like plasma cutting, and machining as primary forms of metal work.
  • Rule 7, no sealed vessels, if you plan to take a tank, bottle, or container and turn it into something make sure it has a way to release the pressure while you weld and afterwords.
  • Rule 8, if you have a tank that is supposed to hold liquid, like a spray tank, the tank should be triple rinsed and allowed to dry. This way no one is exposed to something unknown at the fair.
  • Rule 9, Wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) as exhibits are built. So if you are using a grinder, you should be wearing safety glasses at a minimum, or when welding, gloves and a welding mask. We want you to do this so you don’t get hurt.

State Fair Forms (2026)

**** Posters, Display Boards, & Notebooks, No additional exhibit information is required; no manila envelope is needed for these exhibits.  All other exhibits need the additional information included in a manila envelope. All other exhibits need the additional information included in a manila envelope. Displays, notebooks and posters have been combined into one score sheet for all divisions.

Documents in PDF format can be opened using a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be obtained from:  https://get.adobe.com/reader/

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