Tractor Parade Kicks Off FFA Week
FFA members of Mecklenburg County Middle and High School prepare for the tractor parade on a foggy morning.
On the night before the tractor parade, Mecklenburg Middle and High School FFA members in Virginia loaded their tractors on trailers and hauled them to the Mecklenburg County livestock barn. Some tractors were so big they had to be hauled on semi-trucks! These members made posters about their machines to be judged by members of the local Farm Bureau chapter.
Semi-trailer trucks were used to transport large tractors.
The next morning, participants went to the barn to fire up their engines. Tractors of all sizes and ages roared with eagerness, ranging from the oldest being a vintage 1950 Ford 8N, and the newest a 2021 Massey Ferguson 1E.25.
Meet the Tractors
This 1950 Ford 8N is a generational tractor belonging to the Fuller family.
Chrissy Fuller, the driver of the above tractor, says it is two or three years older than her grandpa.
This International Harvester Farmall 140 was made in 1970 and is used for cultivating crops and light agricultural work.
This 1981 International Harvester 3588 was only produced for two years.
When asked what other special features his tractor has, Eli Parham said, “It’s got a whole lot of weight to it and turns around very quick and easy.”
The Boyd family uses this 1983 Ford 3610 to haul hay and do landscaping.
This 1996 Case IH 5230 Maxxum is used by the Wilbourne family for pushing snow.
Farm Bureau Honors Young Farmers
Members of the local Farm Bureau were invited to the tractor parade to judge the participants’ informational posters. When asked his opinion on the young farmers and their generational tractors, Irvin Matthews, a Farm Bureau board member, says that it is “a continuation of the heritage of our county, and it’s good to see youth involved in this. The Farm Bureau has a Young Farmers program to help instill a lot of this growth.”
The Farm Bureau continues to support the Mecklenburg County FFA Chapters. After looking through each poster thoroughly, members decided on the three that had the best detail, content and appearance.
In third place was Nick Bratten in sixth grade. His poster was about his 2013 Kubota M108S. Jemma Ramsey, an eighth grader, won second place with her poster about her 1996 John Deere 5300. In first place was Dylan Ittner, a 12th grader, with his poster about his 1970 Farmall 140. Caroline Snead, a 12th grader, was awarded an honorable mention.
All of these students put in serious dedication not only on their posters, but in getting ready for the tractor parade. Mecklenburg County Middle and High Schools look forward to next year’s tractor parade.
