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(07/14/26) NEW IBERIA, La. — In a work shed surrounded by a cow pasture in an area of New Iberia where well-manicured lawns share the landscape with sugarcane fields, 4-H youth are doing something special. Despite the setting, these 4-H’ers are not working on a traditional agriculture project. They are designing and building robots destined for competition.
The New Iberia 4-H robotics program consists of two teams — the Circuit Breakers, a team of high school students, and the Spark Plugs, a team of middle school and junior high students.
The teams recently competed in robotic competitions with the Circuit Breakers attending the international FIRST Championship robotic competition in Houston where they won the first place Innovate Award.
Kevin O’Connor is the team coach and dad of three participants. He said the award was focused on having a unique solution to the competition
“We got this award for two main reasons,” O’Connor said. “First, we designed a new type of gear that we used to spin our wheels to drive, and second, because we pushed ourselves to design and fabricate every part of our robot instead of using stock components.”
The Spark Plugs placed fifth in competition at the Cowtown Invitational FIRST Tech Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Even after being eliminated, the Spark Plugs worked with another team still in the competition to fix their robot after a part broke off.
Beyond the competition itself, the events exposed the students to youth from around the world. O’Connor said the team exchanged contact information and traded keepsakes with students from countries including China, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Germany and Australia.
Lucas O’Connor has been involved in some form of robotics for nearly 10 years, starting with Lego challenges and working up to semiautonomous robots. He will study mechanical engineering in college in the fall and said robotics has helped him develop practical engineering skills.
“I really like the mechanical side of things. I like building things. I like designing things,” Lucas said.
He held up hyperboloidal gears he designed and 3D printed. The gears are a main component of the drivetrain on their robot.
“They are my personal creation. I love them very much,” Lucas said, demonstrating how they work together. “These are much, much stronger than a bevel gear is. But I cannot tell you how much I learned trying to make these things work. They were a challenge.”
Members of the New Iberia 4-H robotic teams, the Circuit Breakers and Spark Plugs, competed in the Louisiana FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship in Denham Springs on Feb. 28. Team members are at back, from left, Gordon Schexnayder, Christian Francis, Korbin Warfield, Liam Brown, Lucas O’Connor, Ayden O’Connor, Caleb Hyde and Luke Broussard. At front are Aliya O’Connor and Eden Harvey. Photo provided by Kevin O’Connor
The 4-H robotics team the Circuit Breakers with their award-winning robot at the international FIRST Championship robotic competition in Houston earlier this year. Team members include Audrey Firth, Ayden O’Connor, Lucas O’Connor, Luke Broussard and Eden Harvey. Photo provided by Kevin O’Connor
Ayden O’Connor, lead programmer for the 4-H robotic team the Circuit Breakers, shows off their 4-H droid at the international FIRST Championship robotic competition in Houston in April. Photo provided by Kevin O’Connor
Perseverance seems to be a common skill in the youth competing in robotics, but it is just one of many soft skills the students are developing. Coach O’Connor encourages the students to visit local businesses for tours and potential sponsorships. The team also sells custom-made 3D printed lamps as a fundraiser.
Through these opportunities the youth are practicing leadership skills, public speaking and entrepreneurship.
Audrey Firth said robotics has been an eye-opening experience, allowing her to break out of her comfort zone.
“I am talking to people, I am more confident,” Audrey said. “A few weeks ago, I was talking with a NASA engineer. It was amazing”
Gordon Schexnayder admits when his friend invited him to join robotics, it didn’t sound appealing.
“It sounded like just doing a bunch of schoolwork,” Gordon said.
But robotics has honed his engineering and social skills, and he has found fun it.
“I think the competitions are the best part honestly,” Schexnayder said.
This year, the teams built robots that can gather wiffle balls and launch them into a bin. The youth do it all — coding, computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing and piloting the robot.
Kevin O’Connor said the team has made the leap from hobby-style extracurricular club to earning professional achievements.
“We’ve had sixth graders learn to CAD and engineer parts. Kids with high social anxiety have found their place and become leads in approaching businesses for fundraising. And highschoolers who have found internships as designers for parts in the oil industry,” he said.
Kevin O’Connor said a big benefit to robotics is it gives kids who aren’t inclined to sports the type of environment where they can compete and thrive. They can learn skills they can use in careers, engineering or not.
Ayden O’Connor, the lead programmer for the Circuit Breakers, added, “This is the one sport where everyone can go pro.”
