According to the US Berea of Labor and Statistics, the unemployment rate for Knott County, KY, as of October 2019 is 6.8%, compared to the statewide rate of 4.1%.  Therefore, it is especially important to involve youth in 4-H SET learning opportunities since data suggest that at least 20 % of U.S. jobs require a high level of knowledge in any one STEM field (Rothwell, 2013).  

The 4 areas of competition are Core Values, Robot Design, Robot Games, and Research project/presentation.  Core Values pertain to teamwork, teambuilding, and inclusivity of everyone’s ideas, and teaching gracious professionalism. The team worked through an activity in front of judges to exhibit team work and leadership skills.

 Robot Games require precision coding and programming in order for the robot to complete various missions.Robot Design is the building process where each part has a function to complete one of 20 missions. The building process required the youth to experiment based on predictions they made for each specific task.

 Research project/presentation requires our youth to contact professionals in various workforce fields, and gather information to incorporate in their project. The team had to present their problem, identify a realistic solution, and package an entertaining presentation.  

This year the First LEGO League “City Shaper” project is based on community revitalization.  Mayor Tracy Neice met with them to discuss issues facing our local community and ideas to promote positive change for our area.Joseph Collins from the challenger learning center focusing on the technical coding and programming of the robots. 

Our two teams won overall teamwork and placed 2^ndoverall in core values.  One of our robotic teams are advancing onto the state First Lego League competition this February.  

This program involves youth in cooperation, inclusion, technical problem solving, decision making and gracious professionalism. 

References:  

Rothwell, J. (2013, June). The hidden STEM economy. Washington, DC: Brookings. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-hidden-stem-economy/ 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment Rate in Knott County, KY [KYKNOT9URN], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/KYKNOT9URN, January 4, 2019