Linn County Hosts Upper Willamette District Tractor Driving Competition

On April 24th, Linn County Farm Bureau put on the Upper Willamette District FFA Tractor Driving Competition, which tests high school students in their knowledge of tractor safety and handling though various driving competitions and a written knowledge exam, places participants in two divisions, beginning and advanced. Students from Scio, Lebanon, Central Linn, Pleasant Hill, Santiam Christian and Harrisburg performed all four driving practicums: the cultivator, balancing, pallet loading, and maneuvering. 

An FFA member participating in the cultivation practicum.

The Tractor Cultivator practicum was designed to simulate driving a cultivator over a field. Participants drive over a row of cups, while trying to avoid knocking any over with the implement or else they receive a time penalty. David Goracke, the volunteer who helped run the station, said that students performed well, though the competition was easier than the task it simulates, as students only had to focus on one row.  

A FFA student balancing a tractor on a single axle trailer.

The Tractor Balancing competition had students show their ability to back a tractor onto a single axle trailer. Students attempt to back up to the balance point, and the judges measure how close the student was by seeing how many pounds of pressure it takes to tip the trailer. John Langdon, who volunteers each year, remarked on the fact that this year had an excellent student turnout. 

A FFA student lifting a pallet.

In Pallet Loading, the student backs a tractor up to a wooden pallet with a water bucket on it before stacking the pallet onto a new one without hitting a hay bale. This competition tests smoothness of transportation, mimicking the moving of fresh produce, such as pallets of apples of nuts. The volunteer for this station, Ryan Glaser, noted that the students performed well, especially taking into consideration that the tractors used had various manufacturers, which led to slight differences in handling that the participants had to account for. 

A FFA member preparing to start the tractor for the maneuvering practicum.

The Trailer Maneuvering aspect of the competition was one that was amongst the intensive, as students had to weave tightly through a figure-eight course before backing into a parking spot with a short tongue trailer. Ryan Glaser (a different Ryan Glaser) noted that many students performed well, and that he wouldn’t mind hiring them for his own operation. 

As for the beginning competition winners, Gavin Harris (Lebanon) scored high for the written test, Grant Wahl (Central Linn) scored high for tractor maneuvering, Hunter Weathers (Lebanon) scored high for tractor loading, and Isaac Kropf (Central Linn) scored high for pallet loading and cultivating. The overall beginning winners were, in first place to fourth, Issac Kropf, Grant Wahl, Hunter Weathers, and Sawyer Black (Pleasant Hill). The beginning team winners, from first to third place, were Pleasant Hill, Lebanon, and Central Linn. 

For the advanced competition winners, Ben Robinson (Santiam Christian) scored high for the written test, Tanner Ferschweiler (Lebanon) scored high for tractor maneuvering, Kaden Holt (Lebanon) scored high for tractor loading, Angus Smith (Central Linn) scored high for pallet loading, and Marco Sedano (Harrisburg) scored high for cultivating. The overall advanced winners were, in first place to fourth, Angus Smith, Tanner Ferschweiler, Reiner Nygnen (Santiam Christian), and Van Nusbaum (Santiam Christian). The advanced team winners, from first to third place, were Lebanon, Santiam Christian, and Harrisburg. The top two individuals, both beginning and advanced, will have the opportunity to show off their skills once again at the State Fair. 

A FFA member checking the forklift implement position.