Please be our guest at the annual SUNY Cobleskill High School Day on Friday, September 27th, 2024. The day will give your students the opportunity to see what SUNY Cobleskill has to offer should they choose careers related to Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology.
Registration - To register for High School Day, please use our registration link or contact the Dean’s Office at 518-255-5324. Before you arrive on campus, please email a list of names of the students who are attending to lauteral@cobleskill.edu. This helps us to make sure we spell student names correctly on the contest results listing. If you do not email a list, please bring a list with you to submit at Check-In. We will be capping this event at 1,000 participants this year. Please register early to ensure your attendance.
Lunch – Thanks to the generosity of our corporate sponsors (see below), complimentary boxed lunches will be provided to all attendees. Boxed lunches will include a turkey sandwich (lettuce, tomato, American cheese), chips, cookie, apple and bottled water. Please indicate how many boxed lunches you will need when you register. The boxed lunches will be available for pick up near the bus pick up location, C-Lot (see map) as your group departs campus.
Important Policy Students must be accompanied at all times by a chaperone due to the campus Child
Protection Policy. We request that you bring an adequate number of chaperones to
properly supervise students at all times. (Suggested 1 chaperone/10 students) *Students
must be accompanied at all times by an appropriate chaperone from the Group/Organization
bringing the students to campus (including any trips to bathrooms).
Student Drop Off & Pick-Up – Student Drop Off is along Schoharie Parkway North across from the P-Lot (see map).
Buses that need to park for the day are directed to the C-Lot. If the lot is full,
University Police will direct the buses to another lot. Pick up will start at 11:30
AM in the C-Lot (see map).
We look forward to seeing you at High School Day!
Thank you to our generous sponsors who help make this day possible!
Schedule of Activities
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 am.
Student Drop Off & Check In
Ground Floor Lobby Ctr for Agriculture & Natural Resources
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Coffee, Donuts, and Conversation
Deans Suite Meeting Room 005C
Ctr for Agriculture & Natural Resources
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contest Competitions
(locations to be determined)
12:00 p.m.
Program Concludes
Lunch Pick Up at C-Lot
(for those that selected box lunches for your group)
Dairy Cattle Judging Contest – 9:30 - 11:30 am (Individual and Team Contest)
The contest will consist of four classes; comprised of cows or heifers from Holstein, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Jersey breeds. Five questions will be asked on two classes. Questions will serve as the tie-breaker for both teams and individuals. Twelve minutes will be allowed for each class. A school may enter a maximum of two teams or eight contestants. A team will consist of 4 members. The top three scoring contestants will comprise the team score, the lowest scoring contestant will be the alternate and will also be eligible for individual honors.
Dairy & Livestock Skillathon Contest– 9:30 – 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
The contest will consist of identification and description of various aspects of the livestock and dairy industries. Materials may be identification of breeds, equipment, health products, parts of the animal, dairy products, meat products and industry knowledge questions.
Equine Competition Contest – 9:00 - 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Contest will be conducted with a strong hands-on component including conformation, assessment, anatomy, and tack identification. Students compete as individuals. Team scores will be tallied. Contest will be conducted at the Upper Equine Center.
Livestock Judging Contest - 9:00-11:30 am (Individual and Team Contest)
The contest will include three traditional judging classes (four similar animals per class) that may include meat goats, hair sheep, swine, and/or beef cattle. Questions on the classes of livestock will also be part of this contest. Ties will be broken based on questions. Ten minutes will be provided to place and answer questions for each class. Each team must have four members.
***New This Year*** All Agricultural Engineering Contests will need to be pre-registered for by 9/25/2024 in order for your students to compete in contests. You will be receiving email correspondence from the department regarding pre-registration for all Agricultural Engineering contests. You will need to confirm your attendance when you arrive in the Curtis-Mott Lounge on High School Day.
Ag Engineering Field Demonstrations
Demonstrations of the latest technology will be ongoing throughout the morning.
Hydraulic & Light Construction Equipment Operation Contest – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Part 1:
Student must pass preliminary written test on safe operation and use of controls for the machines to be operated in the contest (Reference: Machine Operator’s Manuals)
Part 2:
Students may choose from 1 of the 3 contests listed below…
- Operation of a John Deere 317 Skid Steer with foot controls through a timed obstacle course.
- Operation of a John Deere 650H Dozer through a timed blade-control training course.
- Operation of a Bobcat ZTS Excavator moving objects in a confined space. Operator’s choice of Backhoe or Excavator control patterns.
NOTE: Limit of 2 contestants from each school in each of the three options in part 2
Identification of Information Technology Components Contest – 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. (Individual Contest)
Participants will be asked to identify information technology hardware common to commercial applications. Designated rooms/labs will be used to set up 15-20 stations of computer hardware/components and networking-related hardware or printed images of hardware. Each station's device or image will be covered so that contestants can't try to gain an advantage from a distance. Students will be given a sheet to identify the device at each station, and will then have 5 minutes to go through as many stations as possible, attempting to identify the devices. Scoring for the contest will then be for correct number of stations identified, using time as a tie-breaker.
Landscape Design Competition – 9:30 am (Individual Contest)
This is your chance to make your mark as a landscape designer. The Landscape Design Competition is where you can showcase your creative skills by transforming a blank site for a client. This individual contest encourages you to harness your creativity. All necessary drafting supplies, a base map, and a client profile will be provided so you can focus on crafting your design. With these tools, you'll conceptualize and plan your design in 90 minutes or less. The competition will commence at 9:30 AM, so please ensure you're punctual. Arriving a few minutes early is advised for event instructions.
Small Gas Engines & Troubleshooting Contest – 9:00 to 11:30 am – (Team Contest)
Each group of 2 students will take a timed, written and hands-on test consisting of such topics/tasks as: Overhead valve tappet adjustment, parts identification, engine operation theory, tool identification and electrical/electronic engine troubleshooting principles. Two individual contestants per school. Contestants must provide their own safety glasses. Tools are not required.
Tractor Driving Contest – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Part 1: Student must pass a preliminary written test on safe operation and use of
controls of modern agricultural tractors.
Part 2: Two-wheel trailer event NOTE: Contest is open to students age 14 and older, with experience in the safe operation
of modern agricultural tractors. Participation is limited to 3 students per school.
Welding Contest– 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Part 1: Written exam on safety and general knowledge.
Part 2: Arc Welding: Contestants will be expected to make a one-sided open electric
arc butt weld and a one-sided horizontal fillet weld. NOTE: Three individual contestants per school. Contestants must supply helmet, gloves, and safety glasses.
Canine Contest - 9:30 to 11:30 am
This contest will consist of students taking a "Guess the Breeds" quiz where 12 breeds - a mix of common and rarer breeds - will be presented in various photographs for students to guess.
Early Childhood Parachute Group or Individual Contest: 9:30 to 10:30 am
Come and put your STEM knowledge to the test by using recyclable materials to build and then test a mini parachute. This will be followed by participating in creative play designed for young children under a traditional parachute. A school may enter a maximum of two teams or four contestants. A team will consist of two members.
Forage & Seed Identification – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Identification of common northeastern U.S. forages by seed and vegetative parts.
Forest Tree Identification – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Trees chosen from Cornell 4-H Bulletin J-85. May use branches with or without fruits and fruits alone.
Fisheries & Wildlife – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Participants will be asked to identify fish and wildlife species common to New York State.
Insect Identification – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
The identification by common name of 25 injurious and beneficial insects found in New York State.
Weed Identification – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Identification of common northeastern U.S. weeds by seed and vegetative parts.
Ag Sales Contest – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Team Contest)
Teams of 3 to 4 students from each school are to make a 10-minute sales presentation to a panel of judges about an agricultural product of their choosing. Product features and benefits, potential target customers, questions to determine customer wants and needs, and anticipating customer concerns and objections should be included. Teams should bring enough product materials for 3 judges. After the presentation, judges will ask teams questions for up to 5 minutes. This event is limited to the first 8 teams that sign up. Please contact mooretw@cobleskill.edu to pre-register.
General Business Trivia Blast – 9:00 to 11:30 am (Individual Contest)
Join us to test your trivia skills! A combination of brain-twisting business and celebrity entrepreneur questions.
Tart Contest - 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. (Team Contest)
One team (up to 4 members) may enter their best tart. Your tarts will be judged on the quality and flavor of the tart, technique, crust, creativity, and presentation. You must include a copy of your recipe with your entry. Competitors will display their whole tart with one slice cut and plated for the judges to taste. Competitors will be given a 36” space for their display. Tarts should be pre-baked but teams may complete some final assembly on site if necessary. Tarts must be set up and ready for judging by 10:00 AM. Students may pick up their displays by 11:30. Please note: Due to a space constraint this year, there will be a limit of 1 team per school for this contest and there will only be 20 spaces available. Reservations for a space can be made by email to campbed@cobleskill.edu.
Biotechnology Workshop – 9:00 - 11:30 am
The contest will consist of a hands-on lab on plant tissue culture and genetic engineering. High school students will have an opportunity to work with tobacco plants, taking explants, preparing them for tissue culture in sterile media and simulated genetic engineering protocol. Students will learn sterile techniques which are used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and medical research laboratories.
Canine Kennels Open House - 9:30 to 11:30 am
The Canine Department will present a guided tour of Animal Science Building D with current students present in a training room to show off some of the training they learn on campus.
Carriage House Marketplace and Café Open House – 9:00 to 11:30 am
The Carriage House is an official Taste New York retail location featuring local and campus-made products. The Carriage House is located next to the Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources on Schoharie Parkway North.
Dairy Processing Center Open House – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
The Dairy Processing Center will be open to visitors to showcase the equipment used to bottle milk and make cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Samples of milk and cheese curd will be available. The Dairy Processing Center is located next to the dairy barn.
Fish Hatchery Open House – 9:00 to 11:30 am
Herpetology Open House – 9:00 - 11:30 am
Wildlife Management students will provide supervision and instruction on the general life, care and handling of common reptiles found in New York. Participants will have the opportunity to handle various species of live reptiles.
Industry Expo – 9:00 to 11:30 am – Curtis-Mott Hall
Representatives from the businesses supporting the programs in the Ag Engineering Department will be on site to discuss employment in our industry. Come see some of the high-tech equipment you could work with in the future!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
