Published: August 21, 2008 10:28 am      

County fair starts with tractor driving

DUNCAN — Empire had a strong showing with seven FFA students.

Unfortunately, only seven students participated in the annual tractor-driving competition Wednesday at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center.

This is the second consecutive year the Empire FFA was the only chapter to participate in the event.

Empire FFA adviser Billy Cheatwood said, “I just don’t understand why there’s not more participation. I try to promote it because I like them to be active in the fair.

“They just like to compete.”

This year’s winners were Casey Yearby in the senior division and Kenny Taylor in the junior division.

Participants took a written exam and then tested their skills driving a tractor through a maze of cones.

A grain drill was hitched to the back of the tractor to make the exercise that much more difficult. FFA members had to show they had the skills to cut the wheel at the right time to avoid hitting cones with the grain drill.

Trevor Pollock, who took second place in the junior division, hadn’t participated in the event previously. Pollock, a 14-year-old freshman, said he was nervous about the competition because the other FFA members were older than he is and several had taken part in the contest before.

“It was different,” he said. “It wasn’t easy; that’s for sure.

“I was kind of shocked I did that good.”

He said he didn’t practice driving a tractor through cones, but he has experience operating a tractor. This could have added to his success in the contest.

“I live on a farm,” Pollock said. “I’ve been around it my whole life.”

The tractor-driving competition is the first event in the 101st Stephens County Free Fair. The fair which will go through Saturday, is packed with animal shows and various other activities. Cheatwood said the contest is just another way for students to be involved with the fair.

“It gives some of them, who don’t have an animal, a way to participate in the fair,” he said. “My goal is to have all my students participate some way in the fair.”

In addition to driving tractors, Pollock said he also shows cattle. But there’s quite a difference between these two competitions.

“It’s something different,” he said. “I’ve driven a tractor before, but that’s it.”

Cheatwood said he thinks the contest, along with other fair events, are important for the students because it’s a way they are rewarded. He said some kids get the chance to show their animals, while others get to participate in events like the Farmhand Olympics.

“Their hard work pays off,” he said.

While this was Pollock’s first year in the tractor contest, he said he enjoyed it and plans to compete next year.

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I’ll be back next year.”

The results are:

Senior division: Casey Yearby for first place, Shashonee Sale in second and Kirby Foster in third; junior division: Kenny Taylor in first, Trevor Pollock in second, Mitch Bailey in third. Tyler Earls and Derrick McAdams also participated in the junior division.