Through hands-on education and teamwork, Somerset FFA members gear up to compete in an annual electric vehicle race.
Somerset FFA members of Somerset, Texas, have the exciting opportunity to design, build and race electric vehicles in the annual Alamo City Electrathon in nearby San Antonio, which draws teams of high schoolers from across Texas and Louisiana.
“This has been a major recruitment tool because so many kids want to get involved,” says Somerset FFA advisor Justin Taylor. “We’ve gone from being a 50-member chapter to now having 350 members, and we’re still growing.”
Under Taylor’s guidance, students learn to weld, change tires, fix electrical wiring and brakes, make design adjustments so the cars can accelerate faster, and much more.
“First, I show them what to do, then we tackle the task together,” says Taylor, a Somerset FFA alumnus whose grandfather also served as the chapter’s advisor. “Once I feel comfortable and confident in their abilities, they start working independently, whether that’s painting a car or installing the steering component. I’m there if they need help, but it’s important they try on their own; that’s how they learn.”
In addition to ensuring students are ready to race, Taylor’s Education Through Acceleration project aims to prepare students for the future as the prevalence of electric vehicles continues to increase.
“We’re all going electric,” Taylor says. “Tractors, semi-trucks, you name it — it’s all going to be electric, and these kids need to be ready. For example, my students learn how to keep track of battery power to ensure the cars have enough juice to make it through a race, and they can tell drivers whether it’s OK to speed up based on how much battery power they’re using.”
After months of hard work and preparation, four teams of four Somerset FFA members competed at the Alamo City Electrathon in April 2023. Each team’s driver raced around the track for an hour, working to accumulate as many laps as possible. After an hour-long break, they were back on track for another hour with the same goal.
“When we compete, even though the kids are on different teams, we’re focused on being successful as a group,” Taylor says. “This year, our top team took fifth place with 94 total laps over the two hours. That might not have happened if everyone wasn’t working together to troubleshoot problems, fix cars and encourage one another.”
Although each role is essential, it’s typically the students in the driver’s seat who feel the most pressure. For Luke Medina, Somerset FFA president, the fun and excitement behind the wheel overrides the stressful moments.
“We have to drive while lying down because the cars are so small,” says Medina, a junior at Somerset High School. “It’s basically like driving a zero-turn lawnmower. We’re suited up for protection, there’s no air-conditioning, and you’re focused on winning and not crashing, so it’s pretty exhausting, but it’s so worth it.”
Both Taylor and Medina agree there’s much more to the racing experience than winning or losing. By engaging in the preparation and competition, students learn valuable skills they can use for years to come as they make lifelong memories.
“I’ve honed my leadership skills while learning what it really means to be part of a team,” Medina says. “In our chapter, everyone pitches in and works together, so everyone is involved in some capacity. It’s not just about me as a driver, and it’s not just about the mechanics. It’s about all of us and the strengths we bring to the table.”
Interested in learning more about careers that work with alternative energy? Visit https://agexplorer.ffa.org/career/alternative-energy-specialist/.
