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Mink destroying bridges throughout south-central Idaho

For many kids across the country, summer vacation is a time of hanging with friends, riding bikes, visiting the local swim hole, and dedicating extra energy to simply ensuring each day is filled with adventure and fun.

Nestled in the heart of south-central Idaho is the small town of Gooding, which boasts a population of 3,500 fine citizens on any given day. It’s home to the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, Zeppes Pizza & Subs, M&W Market (which rumor has it, has quicker cashiers than their competitor to the south), and also the local Central Library, which has charged itself with offering both fun and educational activities throughout the long summer months.

Last month, I was invited to tag along with District 4 Senior Transportation Planner Trey Mink as he gave an engineering and bridge presentation to a handful of youth gathered in the library reading room.

“I first developed this presentation for ITD Transportation Technicians,” Trey said. “The goal was to give a basic understanding of the various bridge types and structural elements, and when former ITD designer Steve Tonks approached me with a request to participate in an educational outreach, I realized this presentation could be adapted for use with multiple audiences.”

For five years, Trey and Steve traveled where invited, giving bridge presentations to interested youth. They presented at middle schools in Twin Falls and Buhl, and encouraged attendees to craft their own bridge creations and see if their models could “take the weight.”

The instructions are simple: using 250 toothpicks, a 1.5-oz bottle of Elmer’s glue, and a few basic parameters, participants have two weeks to create a bridge and then see how much weight it can hold before breaking.

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“I have seen some really interesting designs over the years and can honestly say I am often surprised at the innovation and craftsmanship these kids bring to the table,” Trey said. “The most weight I have seen one bridge hold was 128 pounds - and aside from the fact that the builder was autistic, the most remarkable part of that scenario is that the bridge didn’t actually fail, we just stopped adding weight at that point because the builder didn’t want to see his model in pieces.”

This year, the winner of Gooding’s Central Library competition held just over 46 pounds before breaking. The entire presentation was engaging, entertaining, and educational, with elements of suspense sprinkled in toward the end.

Although Steve Tonks’ retired two years ago, Trey has continued giving presentations and breaking bridges throughout the region. “I really hope that by doing this, children - some of whom may be struggling in school - are able to see the practical applications of math and science and be encouraged to study such in order to build a better future for themselves and generations to come.”