Last month, students of Lander County got first-hand experience in what it takes to operate a mine.
On Thursday, May 22 at the Battle Mountain High School, several students from Lander County 4-H, Battle Mountain High School Computer Robotic Class, Battle Mountain Elementary Schools, and the Austin School District joined together to present a program entitled "Tribute to Mining". Supporters and sponsors for this program were Newmont, Barrick, Marigold, Frontier Coalition, and the Lander County Cooperative Extension.
Students involved in the program ranged from ages 6 - 17. Their project of building a functional mine with robotics and Legos began approximately two years prior to completion.
Students, 4-H leaders, teachers, pa rents, and other volunteers whom 4-H refer to as "Behind the Scenes Heroes" spent endless hours building the mine and the equipment that is used to operate a mine with Legos and other materials to create mountains, dirt, and gold. To top it off the mine was operated with remote control devices such as phones and computers.
Presentations were given by 4-H youth coordinator Tonya McKenzie, Cooperative Extension educator Rod Davis, 4-H member Brandon Juvera, Alex Juvera (4-H Rockin' Robotics leader) and Battle Mountain High School teacher Timothy Jordan.
Participants from Austin included Kaya Congleton, Karlie Young, Aylea Ramos, Jeffrey Willis, Brooklyn Young, Rance Hart, Masen Schacht, Chandra Smith, Shaelyn Hart, Katelyn Kahn, Zoey Policky, Shadow Quertermous, and Austin Hart.
Those from Battle Mountain included Lezli Baird, Zachary Behrman, Luis Cheno, Frank Delgado, Cherri Isakson, Marco Vallejo, Austin Wallock, Ryan Winrod, Jessica Young, Ben Jacobson, Tony Nichols, Adrian Berumen, Justin Berumen, Dixie Cornella, Dillan Cornella, Lizzi Sadler, Daniel Duval, James Duval, Austin Duval, Tara McKenzie, Divine Jacobson, Taylor Green, Vanessa Gillogley, Scott Wall, Brandon Juvera, Lyle Whitten, Amber Burch, Chinonso Akpati, and Desiree Nichols.
4-H member Lezli Baird gave the first preview of Lego Robotics with the club mascot a remote controlled elephant.
All of the Rockin' Robotics 4-H members were involved in building everything there is to operate a gold mine in Nevada. With Legos and miscellaneous materials they built a mountain, mine office, warehouse, ramps, electric shovel, loader, haul truck, crane, dump truck, drill, bulldozer, open mine shaft, and a sorter to separate the gold from the waste.
The project was extensive and the students put on a live demonstration of the operation. The students expressed their stress and frustrations in keeping their mine up and operating - a feeling spectators could relate to.
But with the push of a button on a computer or on their cell phones the students pulled off a terrific mining presentation with conveyor belts moving, and heavy equipment functioning creating their own productive mine.
The 4-H Lego Robotics group began this project two years ago. The students all lived up to their 4-H motto "To Make the Best Better" and their slogan "Learn by Doing". The team work between Lander County 4-H members of Battle Mountain and Austin was a prime example of teamwork. Two communities 90 miles apart worked very hard in person and over the phone to create their "Tribute to Mining" project.
The 4-H program has many other categories for the youth in Lander County to participate in. There is the Rockin Robotics club, shooting sports, livestock, and crocheting. When students show interest in other categories another club is created.
4-H is one of the least expensive youth development organizations to join at $5 upon enrollment. 4-H members learn by doing, according to their slogan. The Rockin Robotics program not only taught them a lot about mining, it taught math, computer programming, public speaking skills, and good communications among co-workers/students.[[In-content Ad]]
