Hayden Strickland, Kason Oliver, and Landon Segrest are students at Huntington High School and are enrolled in the Ag Structures, Design, and Fabrication Class. In just over a week, they’ll exhibit a custom-made hanging day bed at the Angelina County Fair.
Hayden and Kason have been in the agricultural program for two years now as sophomores, while Landon is a Junior and is in his third year in the program.
When asked why they decided to build this particular project, Hayden answered, “We didn’t want just a regular yard swing, so we decided to go above and beyond and build something that could be remembered. So…we went as big as we could.” They settled on a twin sized bed.
Their entry is part of the Ag Mechanics show and will be entered into the Home and Recreational Use division. Common entries in this division may include Bar B Q pits, picnic tables, greenhouses, birdhouses, or other home recreational type projects. Other divisions in the Ag Mechanics contest include Ag Machinery & Equipment, Livestock & Poultry Equipment, Tractor Restoration, and Trailers.
Kason said, “The hardest part of the build was doing the design on the armrest. We had to figure out how to design that.” Hayden added, “Getting all the angles and measurements right was hard. And it also just has to look good.”
While the originally started working on it in October, they have had plenty of other classwork that kept them busy. “It is only recently that we have really been able to work on it a lot.”
For the final competition, it will have a mattress and custom cover. Hayden said, “We took some memory foam and cut it to size. Then I got my grandma to sew a cover for it.” Hayden’s grandma is Cindy Counts.
Kason explained, “It is made from all kinds of lumber – 1×6, 4×4, and 2×4’s and is suspended by a three-quarter inch rope at each corner. We stained the wood ‘Sunlit Walnut’.” Hayden added, “Everyone was surprised when I told them ‘rope’. But the rope is rated for 4,800 lbs., so with each corner being fully supported, it will handle quite a load!” He also added that there are a couple of metal plates in places to give it added strength.
“It is designed to be outside, but whoever buys it can hang it where ever they want,” said Kason. Entries are Home and Recreation division are not eligible to make it into the auction on Saturday evening, March 29, but the builders are quite emphatic that it is for sale.
There are three ag science instructors at Huntington High, Blake Whitworth, Kristen Powers, and Robert Williams. The supervising teacher for this project is Mr. Williams. When asked what he hopes these and other students gain from these projects, Williams had a good bit to say. “Of course they get to learn about measuring and using different tools that the project requires,” he said, “They also learn problem solving skills, teamwork and working as a group. They share duties and responsibilities and learn to do all this on a deadline.”
Williams continued, “As we get really close to the Fair, they have to put together their record keeping forms, which includes their budget and cost effectiveness of the project. Huntington FFA will be entering 12 projects in the Ag Mechanics show this year.”
All divisions of the Ag Mechanics show will move their work in on Tuesday, March 23 from 5 to 7 pm. Judging of their work begins the next day on Wednesday at 8 am. The judges will be looking at and scoring them on aesthetics, authenticity, an interview with the judges, and documentation on costs, photos of the build, and a mechanical report.
The Ag Mechanics show is sponsored by Jarvis Farm Equipment. Top winners in each division receive prizes sponsored by the following: Georgia Pacific, Angelina West Fraser, Roy O’Martin, Waukesha-Pearce Industries, Doggett Machinery, and Standbridge Color.
The entire County Fair is from Monday, March 24 thru Saturday, March 29 concluding with the sale on Saturday. The auction will be Saturday evening in the main arena starting at 4 pm. For more information about the Angelina County Fair, go to angelinacountyfair.com.
