COLUMBUS — Rover Pipeline LLC recently announced a new partnership with the Ohio 4-H Foundation that
includes a $40,000 donation to fund its drone design challenge which will focus on habitat restoration,
native pollinators and agricultural land stewardship practices utilizing drone technology.
Design challenge learning gives Ohio 4-H members the opportunity for hands-on learning about solutions to
science and engineering challenges. Because design challenge experiences are based on current
technologies and real-world problems, they help participants learn how science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) can be utilized in solving those problems.
The drone challenge will launch this summer at 4-H Camp Palmer in Fulton County and 4-H Camp Piedmont, in
Belmont County. The drone challenge will also be available for 4-H participants in the 18 Ohio counties
where the Rover Pipeline is located and various county fairs.
Members will participate in teams, comprised of three to five members working together as engineers and
utilizing their STEM skills. The teams will find ways to better reseed native habitats for native
pollinators using drones. This includes conducting drone videography to map target areas using digital
software, and applying the engineering process to design, build and tether a flock of drones to seed a
native pollinator mixture of warm season grasses and flowers known to be beneficial for native
pollinators.
Innovative agriculture solutions such as this could enable landowners to access areas not possible with a
traditional seeder, decrease planting costs, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, inhibit the
expansion of invasive species, and provide the food and habitat for insects and wildlife.
“We are very grateful for the generous donation from Rover Pipeline and Energy Transfer to be able to
offer new ways to advance STEM to young Ohioans,” said Bob Horton, 4-H educational design specialist.
“This program will give youth hands-on experience in understanding the innovative ways unmanned aerial
vehicles are used in agriculture today and help them think about some amazing career opportunities.”
Career connections are central to the design challenge helping youth to explore engineering, seed
genetics, entomology, wildlife and natural resources. 4-H camps and clubs will be supplied with
supplemental 4-H learning kits to enrich the experience. More information and a demonstration of the
drones can be found at
https://ohio4h.org/news/rover-pipeline-supports-new-4-h-initiativePipeline company partners with 4-H