This month, the Wildcat Pulling Team wrapped up another successful season at the 2025 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) International 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, bringing home multiple awards and continuing its dominance in pulling competitions.
Representing the University of Kentucky Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, the team competed with two tractors this year, an experienced A-Team and a developmental X-Team, marking significant growth in membership during the 2024–2025 academic year.
The A-Team finished fourth overall, placed second in overall performance (pulls, maneuverability, durability) and won all three pulls. The X-Team finished in 1st place overall and won both pulls. For the second year in a row, the Wildcat Pulling Team has gone undefeated in pulls.
The A-Team holds several years of experience under the leadership of Alex Kramer (captain), mechanical engineering junior, Lauren Lanham (co-captain), biosystems and agricultural engineering junior, and Will Faulkner (manufacturing lead), biosystems and agricultural engineering junior.
The A-Team designed an entirely new tractor and competed in all aspects of the competition, including a written design report, a marketing presentation, technical inspection, design judging, a maneuverability event, a durability event and three pulling events. This was a major design change year for the competition with the introduction of a vertical-shaft electronic fuel injection engine, which required a complete drivetrain redesign. Some notable design accomplishments include a custom high-speed right-angle gearbox that redirects engine power horizontally towards the rear of the tractor, regearing of the transaxle to optimize for the power curve of the new engine, a custom 4-link front suspension with hydraulic steering, and a sliding drawer toolbox seamlessly integrated into the operator's station. Also notable was the one less week of fabrication time between May commencement and the competition. All but the right-angle gearbox and a mockup of the front suspension was fabricated in seven days. Painting and final assembly took an additional four days.
The X-Team was comprised of mostly freshman and led by Heath Shewmaker (captain), biosystems and agricultural engineering junior. The team was tasked with updating the clutch bearings to overcome issues experienced in the 2024 competition. The X-Team modified and tested the Wildcat 3124 and completed a written design report during the academic year, followed by a design presentation, technical inspection and two pulling events at the competition.
The Wildcat Pulling Team is supported by the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Pigman College of Engineering. The team added several new external sponsors this year, including National Workwear, Cardinal Engineering, the Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge 4 and Ale-8-One.
