Ohio State Fair attendees had the opportunity to create a windmill! This activity helped them understand how windmills help pump groundwater to the surface to provide the water needed for people, crops and livestock.
![](https://grownextgen.org/media/pages/news/windmill-activity-wows-fair-crowd/25d765f312-1714676000/img_0839-copy-2-scaled.jpg)
At the fair, participants followed an engineering design process to create a derrick that would be able to support the weight of a wind-powered electric generator sitting high enough above the tree line to catch prevailing winds.
![](https://grownextgen.org/media/pages/news/windmill-activity-wows-fair-crowd/7a85cd0f2a-1714676000/img_0833-copy-2-scaled.jpg)
Over 350 water windmills were built and tested at the fair, with such a popular crowd response that the exhibit had to be moved to a larger space. This activity won the “Best Exhibit” award from the fair organizers.
This curriculum and activity was created by GrowNextGen, in partnership with the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience: Presented by Monsanto.
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