- Author: John Gardner
Vortechs Robotics (FRC team 3257) won the 2021 FIRST Infinite Recharge Sacramento Valley, Phosphorus Regional. Additionally, the team won an award for its robot's autonomous capabilities (Autonomous is where the robot is driverless and completes certain tasks using its programing and sensors).
The Vortechs team is a 4-H robotics project comprised of up of high school students from South Placer County high schools and homeschooling students.The team constructs its robots in Roseville and tests the robot at Love of Learning Homeschool Learning Center in Rocklin. The high school students begin the project year by analyzing the current year's competition rules, goals and objectives of the robot. Next, they design an engineer the robot and its mechanisms to achieve the goals and objectives. Then they create CAD designs and begin manufacturing the robot. Next the electrical group begins wiring the robot and creating their elaborate electrical boards. Finally, the robot is off to the programming group where they will design and program custom software to achieve the goals set by FRC (First Robotics Competition). After all this is completed it's usually time to start developing the upgrades. The process takes a lot of time but in the end the students learn great lessons on working together and achieving goals.
- Author: Natalie Cunha
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jean Allender (Musso) in late July. It is a joy to have the ability to reconnect with our Placer County 4-H history. Jean grew up an Auburn local. She first joined the Bowman 4-H Community Club, which met at the Bowman School, in the 1950s around the age of 9. That was just the start of her 4-H career; she participated in Placer County 4-H all the way through high school and aged out of Mount Vernon 4-H Community Club program. Quick Fact: At that time, girls were not yet allowed to join Future Farmers of America (FFA). Jean's parents owned the fruit shed in Bowman, although it was her aunt and uncle who were more involved in the 4-H program. Jean's uncle led the 4-H Tractor Project which both Jean and her sister participated in as well as their aunt's sewing project.
With the Gold Country County Fair right around the corner, it is interesting to know that it used to be called the 20th District Fair when Jean and her sister showed horses and cattle. Jean's sister Susan had a passion for showing cattle, specifically Angus which led her to a life involved in the agriculture industry. Jean showed Shorthorn cattle, and the Musso sisters were part of the first group to sell market steers at the Fair. In 1960, Jean's steer named "Chuck R" after chuck roast placed 1st. They were both active members in the Horse Project, participating on the drill team, camping rides, and horse shows. In the photos attached you can see both sisters in Squaw Valley where they would ride out for 3-4 days. Jean had a brown horse name "Little Mighty", and her sister Susan had a palomino horse named "Socks".
By the time Jean aged out of the 4-H program at 20 years old, she had actively participated in 4-H for over 10 years. Jean's children then followed her footsteps and participated in Placer County 4-H as well. Jean stated that, "4-H is a place to learn about animals, learn to work with people, and gain problem solving skills". 4-H allows a space for youth to network, meet nice people, and it opens a whole new community. Jean went on to be a teacher at Placer Hills School, then Rock Creek Elementary, retiring after 30 years of teaching. Jean showed me her many 4-H trophies and awards, which truly reflect a wonderful time in Placer County 4-H. We were able to look back through her record book and learn about parts of Jean's 4-H story which I have now been lucky enough to share with you!
If you have and 4-H stories you want to share, email them to placer4h@ucanr.edu.
