Grade 7 students Cooper Schaeffer and Payton Cobb paired up for their Heritage Fair project, The Evolution of Combines, at the Kipling School.
The Observer sat down with them to talk about their project.
Why did you choose this as your project to work on?
“Because I know a lot about combines and I thought it would be fun to do,” explains 12-year-old Schaeffer.
"Because I also live on a farm and I also work a lot on combines with my dad,” added Cobb, also 12, “and it’s also something I have quite an interest in.”
The pair went on to explain their project:
“We researched when the first combine was made and how the threshing machines were invented,” explains Schaeffer. “We researched the history of combines from the very first machine to the combines these days.”
One of the oldest machines they showcased in their project was a threshing machine from 1786. As they were researching their information on combines, the two learned a lot about the combine.
“Most of the stuff we already knew but it was cool to see stuff we didn’t know and add that onto our project as well,” says Cobb.
“The old combines were all run manually and nowadays they are more automated,” comments Schaeffer.
Both of these students live on the farm and very much enjoy that lifestyle and help out steady when it comes harvest time.
“I run a combine,” says Schaeffer.
“During harvest I run the grain cart,” says Cobb.
How old were you when you first started helping out on the farm?
“With my mom or dad by my side, I helped out when I was five. I got to bale by myself when I was seven,” explains Schaeffer. “We also have cattle on the farm and ride and rope on horses. We round up the cattle with horses.”
“I was eight when I first ran the grain cart by myself,” reminisces Cobb. “I remember riding along with my dad when I was four.”
Both say they plan on staying on the farm when they get older.
“My dad would like me to go to college in the city so I can learn what the other life is like and then come back to the farm if that’s what I prefer,” explains Cobb .
“I’m probably going to go to college for heavy duty mechanics and then come back and start my own farm,” states Schaeffer of his future plans.
