Cob & Cog | October 2, 2026
This day promises to be an exciting, educational, and action-packed experience featuring 24 unique team competitions across a wide range of STEM fields for high school students. Teams of varying sizes will tackle challenges in areas such as technology, engineering, and agriculture, all set in the state-of-the-art facilities at Ivy Tech Community College. This year, we’ve made changes to the competitions this year—many have been updated, added, or removed—so please review the contest details carefully.
Registration is now open!
Registration closes September 11
*Contests will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Join Us For Cob & Cog
Cob & Cog 2026 | October 2, 2026
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DATE: Friday, October 2, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Ivy Tech Community College - South Campus | 1650 E Industrial Drive | Terre Haute, IN 47802Schools must be registered by September 11, 2026
QUESTIONS?
Contact Molly Joseph at mjoseph22@ivytech.edu or 463-298-3601 -
- Team sizes vary by event, ranging from 1 to 6 participants—please refer to the contest details for specific team requirements.
- Teams may only participate in one event as competitions are happening simultaneously.
- Each school is limited to one team per event.
- Some contests require teams to complete tasks before arriving at Ivy Tech.
- To be eligible to win the trophy, your school must be in at least quiz bowl and 6 competitions (3 advanced and 3 beginner) .
- Schools must be registered by September 11, 2026.
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Cob and Cog Contest Descriptions 2026
NOTE: Some contests require teams to complete tasks before arriving at Ivy Tech. Team sizes vary by contest (1–6 students, depending on the event). Limit one school team per contest.
Quiz Bowl
Earn up to 15pts
Compete in a fast-paced trivia competition covering manufacturing, engineering, technology, math, science, agriculture, and industry knowledge.
Advanced Contests (Experience recommended)
Earn up to 10pts per contest
1. Circuit Rescue
Build a working circuit from a schematic, troubleshoot and repair a faulty circuit using a multimeter, and, if time allows, complete a bonus design challenge by creating a circuit that meets a given specification. Teams are scored on accuracy, troubleshooting skills, and completion time.
2. Crop Consulting Challenge
Teams analyze real-world agronomic data to diagnose crop production issues and develop professional recommendations for a producer. Participants evaluate product trial information, yield data, and economic considerations before preparing and delivering a brief consulting presentation to a panel of judges. Scoring emphasizes data analysis, practical recommendations, economic reasoning, presentation quality, and teamwork.
3. Frankenstein’s Computer
Participants will be handed "deceased" computers with a different set of missing or malfunctioning components. Their mission: dissect, diagnose, and salvage. By identifying which parts are still viable and which are beyond repair, students must cobble together a single, fully functional computer using the remains.
4. From Screen to Steel
Many manufactured products are produced using computer-controlled machines called CNC machines. This challenge will test your ability to interpret a design, understand CNC programming code, and edit/alter code to successfully make the different designs.
5. HVAC
Assemble and test a low-voltage electrical control circuit by following wiring diagrams and technical documents. Teams are evaluated on wiring accuracy, proper circuit operation, and safe testing procedures.
6. Industrial Safety
Competitors will inspect a mock industrial work area and identify as many safety hazards as possible within the allotted time. Contestants will demonstrate their knowledge of OSHA standards, industrial safety practices, and hazard recognition.
7. Livestock Evaluation Contest
Students evaluate multiple livestock classes by comparing animals against industry standards for structural correctness and overall quality. Competitors rank the animals and answer questions related to the classes they evaluate. Winners are determined using traditional livestock judging scoring procedures, with additional tie-breaker questions used when necessary.
8. Mechanical Advantage
Competitors will assemble a belt and pulley drive system from provided components, align the shafts and pulleys, install the belt, adjust belt tension to manufacturer specifications, and demonstrate safe work practices.
9. Metalworking Challenge
Participants in this competition will be tasked with producing a set of precision metal parts and assembling them into a final product based on technical drawings provided. Each competitor must interpret the drawings, plan their workflow, and carry out all necessary operations to fabricate and assemble the components accurately and safely.
10. Power Tool Drag Race
The purpose of the Power Tool Drag Racing competition is to allow Student Competitors to use critical thinking and problem solving to design and build a vehicle powered by a handheld power tool. The power tool vehicle will then run down the track to achieve the fastest time. Three race times will be recorded, and the fastest time will determine the winner.
11. Precision Agriculture Mechanics Contest
This hands-on contest evaluates students' understanding of precision agriculture equipment and technology. Competitors identify precision agriculture components before completing a practical laboratory activity demonstrating equipment setup, operation, or troubleshooting. Final scores combine component identification accuracy with performance during the practical exercise.
12. Soil Judging Contest
Teams examine soil samples to determine soil color, texture, clay content, sand content, and overall soil classification using industry-standard techniques and tools such as the Munsell Soil Color Chart and Soil Texture Triangle. The contest emphasizes accurate field evaluation skills commonly used by soil scientists, agronomists, and conservation professionals. Scores are based on the accuracy of each soil property evaluated.
13. Robo Challenge
Program a FANUC robot to complete a pick-and-place operation using a provided set of blocks and project requirements. Teams are evaluated on programming accuracy, efficiency, and successful task completion.
14. Welding
Working individually or in teams, participants will complete a welding project using a provided set of technical drawings.
Beginner Contests (No experience needed)
Earn up to 5 points per contest
15. Agribusiness & Farm Management Challenge
Teams of 3–5 students manage a simulated 600-acre Indiana grain farm by developing crop plans, creating operating budgets, and making business decisions throughout a changing production season. During the competition, teams respond to unexpected weather, market, and equipment scenarios before calculating profitability and presenting their management strategy. Success is determined by financial accuracy, sound decision-making, teamwork, and problem-solving.
16. Agriculture Career Exploration Challenge (Unskilled Division)
This introductory contest exposes students to a variety of agricultural careers through four interactive stations focused on Agronomy & Crop Consulting, Precision Agriculture, Animal Science, and Agricultural Leadership. Teams complete hands-on activities, solve real-world scenarios, and present recommendations while learning about career opportunities across the agriculture industry. Each station contributes equally toward the team's overall score.
17. Battle Bots
Teams will compete in a bracket competition with robot vehicles to pop each other’s ballon.
18. Break Free
Students will be provided with a basic lock-pick set, and three different locks offering increasing levels of difficulty. Students will pick the locks! Both team members must demonstrate picking each lock.
19. Bridge to the Future
Design and construct a bridge structure that will span 3 feet between two tables, using only spaghetti and hot glue. The bridge must support the included paper bowl. The bridge will be weighed, and it will be tested by adding weight to the bowl. The bridge with the highest ratio of (weight supported) / (weight of bridge) wins.
20. Drone Challenge (Unskilled Division)
Teams compete in a timed drone obstacle course designed to test piloting skills, precision, and consistency. Each team member flies the course individually, navigating a series of numbered checkpoints before returning safely to the launch area. The team with the fastest combined average time wins, while tie-breakers are determined by overall course operation and flight performance.
21. Hidden in the Labs
Technology is hidden all around you... but so are the careers that build the future.
Your team has 75 minutes to explore Ivy Tech's School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science. As you travel through our labs, you'll uncover cutting-edge technology, solve discovery challenges, meet faculty, and learn about the careers behind each program.
Complete as many challenges as possible by locating equipment, answering questions, interacting with instructors, and collecting evidence along the way. Every lab has something new to discover.
Will your team uncover every hidden opportunity before time runs out?
22. Escape Room
An advanced manufacturing facility has been taken over by its own artificial intelligence. After locking the control room and seizing control of the factory, the AI has halted production and begun overriding critical systems. Your engineering team has just 25 minutes to bypass security, decrypt the AI's encrypted files, and regain control before the robots become fully autonomous... and the factory is lost.
23. Rocket Stages
Using only the materials provided, design a two-stage system that moves the balloons along a guided path, powered only by the deflation of the balloons.
