4-H Engineering Design Challenge

Information and resources

• EDC Handbook - All the information needed to participate in the challenge.
• 4-H EDC State Fair Showcase Guide 

Q: What does human intervention mean?                                                          

Once the first step in your machine takes place (e.g. someone pushes a ball onto a ramp), the machine should function all the way to the end without a person touching it. However, sometimes the machine may fail to reach the last steps to accomplish the task. If a machine fails before it completes the task, it may be necessary for a person to start it again from the point where it failed. That is a human intervention. 

Q: Can I enter a machine that has been previously built and posted online?                    

No. All entries must be new machines created for the current challenge year and theme.

Q: What is a desirable size for a machine?

Due to space constraints at the State Fair, we encourage teams to think mini and keep their machine to tabletop dimensions to build a machine that is manageable and portable.  We encourage a “card table” or platform size of 3-4 ft wide (with height up to 6 ft.). The maximum allowed dimensions are 6’ x 6’ x 6.’  Machines will be on display in the 4-H building for the duration of the state fair. 

Q: Should we build our machine on a platform, table, or the floor? 

Teams will decide the best ways to ensure their machine is built on a stable surface or in a way that makes it easy to reset after each run. Some “best practices” have been to build a platform on wheels, use a sturdy table you bring, build a base so you can attach some of your machine parts to the base, or other methods to make it sturdy. Machines will be set up on a hard surface floor in the 4-H building at the state fair. 

Q: What sources can we use for research?                                      

Information gathering is a key step in the design process. Some of the information may be what you and your teammates already knew before you started to think about your machine. In that case, your source is your other teammates or maybe the class in school where you learned the information, or maybe a parent or relative or a 4-H volunteer who taught it to you. 

But you probably won’t know everything before you start. The library, your teachers, the Internet, your family and friends are all good sources for helping you figure out how to solve a problem.

Q: Can a team be made up of youth of different ages and school grades?

Yes. Adult leaders should carefully consider the benefits and challenges of widely varying age/grade groups. Youth in different grades vary greatly, not only in their attention span and ability to stay on task, but also in the amount and type of planning they are capable of, the guidance and recognition they require, and the types of personal development they seek.

Q: Is there an ideal team size?                                                                        

This depends on age of the members however most experienced coaches recommend 6-8 members on a team to help ensure everyone has a role and to make it easier to coordinate schedules for meetings.

Q: Can youth from different counties be on the same team?                               

Yes. However, the team must be affiliated with a specific county’s 4-H program. If they exhibit their design at a county fair, it will be the fair of the county they’re affiliated with.

Q: Will our team be disqualified if we can’t complete the minimum number of steps?

No, your team will not be disqualified. A machine that meets the minimum number of steps has achieved the expected standard. A machine that does not meet the expected standard may result in a lower ribbon placing.

Resources for team support

• Coaches informational webinar on May 13, 2025 recording (Google Drive)
• The Engineering Design Process guides teams through the problem solving process as they create their machines. Teams will share how they used this process to complete the challenge task.
• Eight Practices of Science and Engineering from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is a guide to help youth improve their skills through science and engineering practices.
• The Engineering Simple Machines learning guide was developed by members of the Minnesota 4-H State STEM team. This curriculum supports coaches with practical strategies to teach the engineering design process, the eight engineering practices and 21st Century skills through an experiential process. Find these lessons and more in the  youth development curriculum library under STEM topics.
• Mini Golf Challenge: Design a Mini Golf Hole lesson
• Team Coach/Volunteer job description lists the roles and responsibilities of any adult who serves as a volunteer team coach.
• The Engineering Simple Machines lesson plans were developed by members of the Minnesota 4-H State STEM team. These lessons help volunteers and educators teach youth about the six simple machines and how to use them to design an Engineering Design Challenge machine.

Judging

In this interview, project engineer and challenge judge Teresa Burgess explains what she looks for when interviewing a team.

Guidelines

Use the guidelines in the EDC Handbook to help your team prepare for a conference judging experience.

• Rookie Level Team
• Level 1 Team
• Level 2 Team

Evaluation

Judges use this form to give teams feedback during a conference judging experience.

Elements and ideas you can incorporate into your own machine

• 50 Rube Goldberg Machine ideas
• 75 Rube Goldberg ideas & inventions

Helpful videos

• A Minnesota 4-H Engineering Design Challenge team in action -The Meeker County Koronis Eager Beavers demonstrate their contraption that puts toothpaste on a toothbrush and talk about what they learned while building it.
• View videos of past teams' machines (Google Drive folder) for inspiration. 

Keeping a journal

Keeping a journal or engineering notebook is strongly recommended. This provides a way to record design ideas, work accomplished, problems encountered and solutions tried, materials needed, and any other aspects of designing and building your machine. Teams wishing to enter their machine for judging at county or state fairs or the state showcase event are required to keep a journal or notebook.

Here are some photocopied journal excerpts from teams that competed in a previous Engineering Design Challenge. Some parts of these examples became difficult to read/see when we photocopied them.

The following files are for printing only:

• Full journal (Miles of Smiles team from Stearns County) (PDF)
• Full journal (Can Cak Flooses team from Washington County) (PDF)
• Journal excerpts (Mechanicals team from Ramsey County) (PDF)
• Steps list (Can Cak Flooses) (PDF)
• Steps diagram (Can Cak Flooses) (PDF)

Questions to help guide journaling

• Example journal questions

Registration

Complete these steps to register for state fair judging:

1. Engineering Design Challenge coaches complete the intent to form a team form in Qualtrics by June 30, 2025.
2. Engineering Design Challenge participants register for the state fair attendance following their county process and deadlines. At least one member of the team must be present at the state fair for judging. The preference is for as many team members as possible to participate in the State Fair showcase/judging experience. 
3. Engineering Design Challenge coaches register for the state fair participation on the adult registration form, following their county process and deadlines. 
4. Engineering Design team must upload a video of their machine in action by Aug. 15. Instructions and tips for video submission. Complete the video submission form. 

Cost

• Each youth participant will pay a state fair program fee. Overnight housing and meals are optional. Team members will register to participate in the showcase with the state fair registration form 1. 

• Each coach will use the state fair chaperone registration form 2. No fee for coaches to attend. Overnight lodging and meals may be available for an additional fee.

Contact your local 4-H office with county specific questions.

All experiences take place on the first floor of the 4-H Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and include:

• Time to calibrate your machine and do practice runs before judging.
• Team showcase of your machine, which includes presentation, running your machine, conference judging with a team of judges and reflecting on your learning experience.
• Ribbons and awards presented at the conclusion of the judging time.

Review the 4-H EDC State Fair Showcase Guide for more information.

You will attend the showcase during the general encampment your county is assigned to at the state fair. You only need to attend the judging time slot assigned to the Engineering Design Challenge. 

See the general encampment schedule on the 4-H state fair exhibitor resource page for more details.

Machines will be on display in the 4-H Building for the duration of the Minnesota State Fair. 

Delivery and pickup

• Machines should be delivered on or before the Monday prior to the state fair opening day.
• Machines can be picked up the Tuesday after the state fair closes. 

Additional details will be sent to EDC teams and coaches to make arrangements. 

There is no qualifying event for the state fair participation. All teams are welcome. We do encourage teams to showcase their machine at their county fair or another local showcase prior to the state event but this is not required.

Participating in the Engineering Design Challenge showcase is in addition to other state fair trips and events. You can also attend livestock encampment, general project encampment and other state fair opportunities.