SUBLETTE COUNTY, WYO – The Cowboy Joes are going places. At the First Lego League Wyoming State Championships this past December, the Pinedale FLL 4-H Robotics Club (Cowboy Joes, Team #8701) managed to win it all. That’s right. More than 40 teams competed and the Cowboy Joes came away with first place and received the title of Grand Champions.
As a result, the 10-member team has been invited to represent the state of Wyoming at the FLL World Festival in Houston, TX this April.
One problem.
These kids might be talented but they have not yet (not yet, anyway) been able to construct their own Lego bus to get them to Texas. They need funds.
The four-day robotics championship held in Houston, Texas (April 18-21) features State FLL Championship Tournament winners to an invite-only competition of the world’s best 108 teams. The Cowboy Joes went last year. They learned what it takes to compete at this elite level. They are ready to conquer and serve notice to the world that Pinedale means business.
What they did…
From the Pinedale Online story of December 7, 2017: “The Pinedale Cowboy Joe’s team chose an innovative solution for transporting water by including drone technology as a search tool for finding and recording wash-outs in canals and ditches. They continued their quest to improve their technology skills by creating a Power Point Judges presentation and also creating some fun and entertaining green screen stop motion videos.
Their team robot, BatCycle, is a box robot incorporating many gears that allow a single motor to function for all of their Robot Mission Challenges.
The 10-member team is composed of elementary and middle school students ranging in age from 9-13 years old. Team members are Brycen Vrska, Noah Daniels, Elizabeth Adkins, Liam Walker, Noah Adkins, Wyatt Griffin, Cayden Christensen, Emmaline Vrska, Alex Adkins, Eva Collins. They are coached by Sandra McLoughlin and Andy Adkins.
What they’re gonna do…
Win a world championship, of course. But the Cowboy Joes need your help. The team has set up a GoFundMe page to help get them started. With a little love and cash, these brainiacs just might do it: bring home the trophy. If not, well, the learning experience will enrich the rest of their lives.
