Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

“Life is like a Rube Goldberg Machine, you never know what comes next.”

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is where creativity and chaos collide! Students of all ages unleash their imaginations to dream up and build complex machines that tackle ridiculously simple tasks. Using all kinds of wacky, found, or recycled materials, they create epic chain reactions in a lively, competitive showdown full of laughter, surprises, and engineering genius.

At the 2025 competition, we want to see your most paw-some ideas! This year’s challenge is to Feed a Pet, so gather your team and register by January 17, 2025.

The Regional 2025 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest will be held on February 22nd at Batesville High School.

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine?

How to Build a Rube Goldberg Machine?

Why I Love Rube Goldberg

Past Contest Winners

Ripley County Engineering Academy

Division II
2024 - Put Toothpaste on a Toothbrush
1st Place and Most Rube Goldbergian Award
Batesville High School

Division II
2024 - Put Toothpaste on a Toothbrush
2nd Place
Anderson High School

Divsion II
2024 - Put Toothpaste on a Toothbrush
Best Dressed Award and Creativity Award
Batesville Middle School

Division I
2024 - Put Toothpaste on a Toothbrush
1st Place
St. Louis Catholic School

Division I
2024 - Put Toothpaste on a Toothbrush
2nd Place
Ripley County Engineering Academy

Division II
2023 - Build a Lunchables
1st Place and Most Rube Goldbergian Award
Oldenburg Academy

Division II
2023 - Build a Lunchables
2nd Place
Batesville High School

Division II
2023 - Build a Lunchables
Most Innovative Way to Start a Machine and Best Use of a Slinky Awards
St. Louis Catholic School

Division I
2023 - Build a Lunchables
1st Place
Salem Middle School

Division I
2023 - Build a Lunchables
2nd Place