A group of young problem-solvers from Moody County is thinking critically about how to solve a local environmental issue: fish kill caused by low water levels and oxygen depletion in lakes and rivers.
The Moody County 4-H First LEGO® League team — made up of Hanna Roberts, Ella Wede, Piper Haugen and Madison Aadland — spent this past fall developing solutions for this year’s competition.
They took their ideas, in the form of robotic Lego creations, to the Elmen Center on Augustana University’s campus on March 8.
The four young Flandreau-area girls developed a floating island system designed to aerate the water while providing a recreational space for families. The islands, connected by platforms, would include built-in pumps to circulate cooler, oxygen-rich water into shallow areas, helping to prevent fish die-offs.
“We wanted to do something that could actually help our lakes,” Roberts said.

“It could work in places here and anywhere else with the same problem.”
As part of the competition, teams had to present their research to judges, build a LEGO® robot to complete tasks and answer tough questions about their designs. The girls even consulted with the South Dakota Department of Natural Resources to refine their idea.
Though they didn’t place, their coach, Crystal Hanson, said the experience was a win.
“They worked as a team, thought critically and handled questions with confidence,” Hanson said.
“That’s what this is all about.”
“My favorite part was meeting new kids, getting to program our robot and learning new skills… I also loved our team’s project this year. It was fun and interesting, and I loved learning more about ocean life,” Wede said.
With Moody County 4-H Robotics approaching its 10th year, the team is already thinking about next year’s challenge — and their next big idea.
“You get to research a problem related to the seasons, program a robot and hang out with friends,” Roberts said, encouraging others to consider joining the club.
Anyone interested in learning more about the EmBe-sponsored program can contact the Moody County 4-H office at moody@sdstate.edu.
More on the programs just getting started for youth interested in participating this spring, summer and fall, along with a new initiative underway for the 4-H Fairgrounds in Flandreau, will be in next week’s edition.