'Think big for yourself'

MOSCOW - In the future, humans may no longer have to go through the long, tedious process of baking.

If it's up to Garwood Elementary fourth-graders Holley Cass and Cole Daricek, a cookie-making robot would do all the work.

"This makes (you) a baked treat in case your parents don't want to make you something," Cole said. "It does it all right here."

The two Rathdrum 10-year-old inventors showcased their design for the "Cookie Monster" at the 25th annual Invent Idaho State Finals competition on the University of Idaho campus Saturday.

Nearly 150 first- through eighth-grade students from across the Gem State worked individually or in teams to invent the 130 entries that launched them from the three regional events to the state competition. They submitted models, journals, descriptions and exhibits in categories of gadgets and games, adaptations, non-working models, working models, and the Jules Verne division, which included Cole and Holley's "Cookie Monster."

"Always think big for yourself, and just go with any idea you have," Holley said.

Another innovative Jules Verne entry was the "Floating Chair," dreamed up by 10-year-old North Idaho STEM Charter Academy student Ellie Thomson.

"It floats around your house. It's very futuristic," she said.

Ellie got the idea from a magnet exercise she worked on in school. Her "Floating Chair" design included magnets so strong they would have to be cooled by liquid nitrogen.

"They lock in magnetic force so the chair doesn't flip over," Ellie said. "You would need a liquid nitrogen filter and large, strong super connectors, so it's pretty futuristic."

Many of the inventions had real-world applications, such as N.I. STEM Charter fifth-grader Alauna Davidson's "Rabbit Relyafeed." Her design included a programmable rabbit-feeding device which allowed users to ensure their pet rabbits would be fed even in the owners' absence. Her inspiration was her bunny Buster Brown, who was a little too skinny when she and her family came back from vacation because the bunnysitters didn't adequately feed him.

"You program it to feed during the days of the week," Alauna said. "And it has water and food, and there's a tube on it that goes back and forth."

Alauna said she enjoys being creative, and likes the idea of preventing future rabbit malnutrition.

"Come up with stuff that helps your problems," she said.

Forrest Bird Charter School sixth-grader Garrett Hoyt presented a K'NEX model of the "Tiller Trike," a more efficient way to till soil while getting some exercise.

"What it does is when you pedal it tills the ground so the ground can get ready for planting," he said.

He said he chose to work on the "Tiller Trike" after brainstorming and eliminating other options. He wants to have a career in computer programming once he completes school.

"Don't give up and don't give in," he said. "Work your hardest."

A group of Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy students qualified for state with the "Hunter's Helper."

"It's an arrowhead with a GPS tracker chip, so if an arrowhead breaks off you can go find it and attach it onto another frame," said Sydney Olson, 14. "It's helping so we don't waste the animal. If you hit an animal with a bow and you can't find it, you waste the meat and you kill the animal for no reason, really, so it's wasteful."

"This next generation's going to be the one leading us forward and making a difference," Sydney's mom Nicole Olson said. "It's inspiring."

Invent Idaho co-founder and president Beth Brubaker said every year the creativity just keeps improving.

"The students' inventions amaze me," she said. "Our future is in really good hands with these young scientists, engineers and creative minds."

Winners of the state competition are invited to Boise to showcase their inventions on March 18. Awards and a webcast of the awards ceremony is available at www.inventidaho.com.