|
|
|
|
|
Shown here, left to right, with their winning tractor entry are Cotton Center FFA team members Cody Heath, Jessica Caswell, Jennifer Heath, Kami Payne, Brenda Marquez, KC Garcia, Nikki Edwards, Toby Castilleja, Brittany Swoap, and Sara Barr. Team members not pictured include: Heath Reeves, Julie Heath, Jessie Masters, and Amy Davis.
By Lana Robinson
Field Editor
Persistence paid off for Cotton Center FFA students who for the past five years have placed as finalists, but this time around, took home top honors and a check for $2,500 in the ninth annual ChevronTexaco Tractor Restoration Competition. The contest was held during the recent 77th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky. By combining modern technology with old-fashioned elbow grease, the Hale County students' 1939 John Deere H was judged the top restoration project among six national finalists.
"I couldn't be more proud of them," said Cotton Center FFA instructor David Howell, who oversaw the project. "You just can't believe how good these kids are. This is a little bitty school. Three of the seven girls on the team were the homecoming court and four were cheerleaders. We had two guys who were football players. These kids do it all."
The entire Cotton Center High senior class, along with two juniors, pitched in to restore the 65-year-old tractor provided by Ronald Clay from Flomot.
"I think the key to winning is that we did every segment of the competition this year," noted Howell. "Obviously, our kids did a good job of restoring the tractor."
All entrants were required to submit a workbook that detailed the entire tractor restoration process, from mechanical overhauls of the engine, transmission and auxiliary and ancillary systems, to the external appearance of the tractors. Entries were narrowed down to eight finalists in the individual competition and six finalists in the chapter competition. These finalists were invited to the National FFA Convention in Louisville to present their projects to a panel of five professional tractor restorers, who have judged the competition since its inception. Projects were graded on restoration process, results and documentation, as well as oral presentation and safety precautions.
The students received outstanding community support. Doyle McFerrin, a tractor mechanic and owner of Mc- Ferrin Tractor Co. in Lubbock, with his brothers Joe, a Cotton Center farmer, and Jim McFerrin, launched the ag mechanics program as a memorial to their late father Ralph McFerrin by donating the first tractor and all its parts five years ago. The men continue to loan the kids tools and technical assistance. Local residents Harold Harbour and Joe Stokes provided mechanical expertise.
Inspiration for the group, which included triplets Cody, Jennifer and Julie Heath, was their mother, Robin, and Becky Gast, wife of Cotton Center Superintendent Keith Gast. Both women are recovering from cancer.
"When Robin Heath came down with breast cancer last April, we weren't real sure we were going to take this trip—as a whole family. Becky Gast had surgery for a brain tumor this past summer. Both women ended up going with us as chaperones. Becky got to go spend the week with her grandchildren in Evansville, Indiana, which is 90 to 100 miles from Louisville. It was exciting. We called it our 'Celebration of Life' trip. Through the experience, our kids got to understand being able to spend time with your family is more important than winning," said Howell.
Sixteen-year-old Heath Reeves participated last year, when the team restored a 1961 Minneapolis Moline tractor.
"It takes a long time and a lot of patience. You do get on each other's nerves, but that's part of team work," said Heath, who has grown up around tractors operated by his grandfather, L.B. Reeves, who farmed full time, and his father, Jerry Reeves, a part-time farmer.
Heath, a high school junior, gained enough confidence to compete in the individual category next time around.
"I'm going to restore my own Farmall, a 1939 model. Maybe I'll get to spend more time. You do have to take turns on the team project," said Heath, who may continue tinkering with tractors as a hobby.
Jesse Masters,16 and also a junior at Cotton Center High School, learned the value of diplomacy.
"Everybody's got to get along. If you don't, something gets messed up as you go along," he suggested.
The $2,500 in the FFA chapter's bank account has already helped start the projects.
Howell said from where they started, the girls probably learned more from the experience than the boys.
"One thing's for sure, no auto mechanic is ever going to take advantage of them because they know what's going on," he said.
Other Texas youths made their mark at the tractor competition. Randolph Haass, Devine FFA, Devine, was first runner-up in the individual competition and winner of $1,500 for his restored 1941 Case SC. The Decatur FFA team won first runner-up and $1,500 in the team competition with a refurbished 1966 John Deere. Second runner-up in the team competition went to FFA students at Abernathy. The team was awarded $1,000 for their restorative work on a 1955 Oliver Super 88.
