[fox46]

I just googled your location- there must be a team nearby, at least in Knoxville who can help you. Try soliciting local businesses for mentors- even in a rural area there are very knowledgable individuals who should be able to help: machine shops, autoshops, general contractors small engine repair, even hardware stores should have some knowlegable people who could help. Heck- farmers! If they know how to run a combine harvester then they should have LOTS of ideas for a ball harvester!

The two teams I mentor are 3 hrs away from each other, one - 2013 Cybergnomes, is in a very rural area and their main sponsor is JT's Snowmobile - http://jtsnowmobile.com/ which is a snowmobile and ATV shop. This one amazing shop whose building started life as a hay shed, provides more support than I have seen from multi-national corporations supplying teams with thousands of dollars and engineers to help them! Let alone, the quality, innovation and talent that comes out of their town of Stayner Ontario is mind-blowing as the Boston regional last year will attest to. Just because you aren't in a rural area doesn't mean there aren't knowledgable individuals and businesses who are willing to help in your midst. You guys have to get out there and find them and I bet they would love to help you- sometimes all it takes is asking.