Peoria, Illinois—North Carolina State University made it two in a row, as the Pack Pullers claimed top honors in the ASABE International 1/4-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition. The team enjoyed their first-ever win in 2024.
Finishing in a tie for second place were Kansas State University and South Dakota State University. Rounding out the top five were the University of Kentucky, in fourth place, and Purdue University, in fifth. This year’s competition drew 23 teams from the U.S. and Canada and included a first-time competitor, Oregon State University.
Sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the contest provides a realistic 360-degree workplace experience. It is a popular recruiting event for many sponsors, who find among the participants practiced, high-achieving prospects with strong technical, communication, and leadership skills honed by competition experience.
Kawasaki Engines is a new sponsor in 2025, and this year’s competition is the first to incorporate their engine.
Teams are given an engine and a set of tires; the tractor is theirs to design and create. A panel of industry experts judges each machine for innovation, manufacturability, serviceability, and other factors relevant to real-world operability. Teams also submit a written design report in advance of the competition. Onsite, they must sell their design, in a formal presentation to industry experts playing the role of a corporate management team. Finally, machines are put to the test in three performance events—tractor pulls, a maneuverability course, and a durability course. Teams are recognized for their excellence in all aspects of competition, some of which factor into overall scoring.
Here are the winners of individual categories:
Best Appearance—University of Wisconsin – Madison
Jim and Darcy Schmidt Family Teamwork—Oregon State University
Sportsmanship—University of Guelph
Craftsmanship—Iowa State University
Manufacturability— North Carolina State University
Serviceability—Iowa State University
Test & Development—Kansas State University
Safety— University of Wisconsin – Madison
Ergonomics—University of Nebraska
Innovation—Iowa State University
Defense of Design—(tie) North Carolina State University and Oklahoma State University
Team Presentation—South Dakota State University
Written Design Report— South Dakota State University
Maneuverability— University of Wisconsin – Madison
Durability—North Carolina State University
Tractor Performance—North Carolina State University
Most Improved—(tie) University of Georgia and University of Guelph
Sponsors of the 2025 competition include: Claas Stiftung, CNH, John Deere, Kawasaki, Kubota, Danfoss, SolidWorks, Titan International, Catalytic Combustion, Agco Corp–Hesston, GSI Grain Systems, Krone, LINAK, Mac Don, SpaceX, Thomson, and Vermeer. Also: DeweSoft, Igus, Kondex, Matex Products, Inc, Medeiros Machine & Mfg, Miller Electric Manufacturing Co, Precision Planting, and Scale Tec. Additional support is provided by AC MCCartney Farm Equipment, Blunier Implement, Caterpillar, Electrex Inc, HarvestMaster, Martin Tractor, SJ Smith Co, and Star Equipment.
ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.