Published: August 26, 2009 10:15 pm      

Driving green

Tractor contest about safety

DUNCAN — Driving a tractor is no easy feat. Add a farm implement and it becomes an even more trying task. Nonetheless, 10 kids from Empire, Comanche and Velma showed off their heavy machinery skills Wednesday as they competed in the Tractor driving contest for the opening day of the Stephens County Free Fair.

The contest is mainly a safety learning course for the students and includes obstacles not only on the course, but in a safety test as well. Participants are graded on their ability to maneuver through an obstacle course of cones both forward and backward and are penalized for number of times they hit a cone, and by the number of maneuvers it takes to get through the course. On top of their driving skills, the drivers are judged on their safety while on the tractor, such as seat belt use, tire spinning or anything else that would be considered erratic or unsafe.

However, before they even set foot on the tractor, the students are given a tractor safety test that is figured in with their final score.

“It’s really a safety deal,” judge Buddy Rozell said. “It really includes knowledge and skill both.”

This may have been a learning experience for the drivers, but it was also a competition.

In the senior division, first place went to Kenny Taylor of Empire, second place went to Jordan McMasters of Comanche, third place went to Derrick McAdams, fourth place went to Robbie Nelms and fifth place went to Casey Dyer of Comanche.

In the junior division, first place went to Trevor Pollock of Empire, second place went to Cade Baldwin of Velma, third place went to Jeremy McCormick of Empire, fourth place went to Cooper Hill of Empire and fifth place went to Dakota Bilbey of Empire.

Judges for the contest also included Earl Weisner and Kenneth Williams, with some added help from Max Gallaway.