This is the Schiefelbein farm it was was founded
in 1955 by my father-in-law.
Currently there are eight families involved
in this operation and currently we have 800
registered angus cattle and 1200 cattle on
feed.
My team is creating a GPS tracking device
that would be placed in an ear tag in cattle.
It would notify the owner when cattle would
break the barrier and be out.
That way the farmer doesn't have to constantly
check his cattle.
The tag issue evolved when we had some cattle
up in Northolm which is about four hours away.
The cattle got out in the middle of the night.
It was quite the feat to get them back in,
so when the story was told it was decided
that they could track on the phone where the
cattle were.
So we came up with the dimensions of the tag,
the size we'd like it to be.
And then when we received the GPS we developed
the ear tag further so that the GPS would
be able to fit on the ear tag but not get
in the cow's way.
When we looked at an ear tag we realized that
it wouldn't have been big enough to actually
hold the tracker and have our numbers written
for the identification.
So we actually took it to a 3D printer to
see if they could extend the tag and make
it longer so that we could have the tracker
on the lower part and then have the number
written across the top.
We worked with Erik from the DNR on how they
track the moose and we were able to learn
how they power their collars on the moose
and how they are able to last so long.
At first we started looking at solar because
because we figured, hey, they're outside all
day.
They should be able to generate solar, but
then we realized we'd have to have a really
big solar panel and that wouldn't fit well
on the ear tag.
So then we went with GPS tracking and we had
to figure out how the battery life would work.
We've got it where it lasts 8 hours right
now and we're hoping to improve that over
time.
Overall we're hoping that one day we'll be
able to have it like a pacemaker where it's
instant charge so every year when they go
through the shoot they'll get an instant recharge
and the tag is good for another year.
My team would be interested in getting this
item patented because it would be able to
help other farmers, and it takes a lot of
stress off the farmer.
As anybody involved in the ranching industry
knows, cattle have a mind of their own and
they like to do their own thing.
This is just another way to track them without
having to physically be there.
If conditions aren't perfect, you know where
those cattle are at all times.
I think the Science of Ag Challenge will really
help me because it really helps with problems
solving.
You actually have to really think through
it and go, OK--this didn't work, so now what
am I going to try to figure it out?
And this year through problem solving, I've
learned that I actually want to go into research
and development in the food industry.
It's taught me to work well with others and
especially my team mates and it also showed
me that it's not going to always work the
first time.
You have to try and try again.
And that way it can be the way you want it,
you can make it perfect.
