2017 Tractor Restoration Competition is rolling across the country

August 25th is the deadline for all material submissions for the 2017 Delo® Tractor Restoration Competition.

It is the culmination of years of work for an extraordinary group of young men and women who have devoted so much of their time, energy, skill and family resources to the complete rebuilding of old and, in some cases, antique tractors.

This marks the 22nd year of the Delo TRC, and it looks to be one of our biggest years ever. Originally a regional contest, the competition has now spread nationally, with participation from local 4H clubs, Future Farmers of America and numerous high schools in agricultural communities.

The competition is open to any high school student. There is, of course, prize money and recognition for the Grand Champion and the top runners-up. But it is really the challenge that motivates these young people. The judging standards are extremely high and the work must be of a truly professional caliber. All entrants must submit workbooks, photos and videos documenting their projects and the process they followed. They need to explain how they found the tractor, show its prior condition, photograph their work in progress, and demonstrate that the equipment has been fully restored to good working condition. They need to go over their costs and how they went about raising funds. Most importantly, they have to show that they followed strict safety procedures. Finalists must make live presentations to the judging panel.

The real rewards of this program are the valuable lessons learned that these students can apply later in their careers. Not only do they develop their mechanical skills, but also their problem-solving and presentation skills. They learn about project management, budgeting and fundraising, time management, communication and teamwork. Luke Haywood, the father of last year’s Grand Champion Austin Haywood of Hastings, Michigan, put it this way: “No other program is available to our students that starts at the high school level and is as comprehensive and technical as the Delo TRC competition that motivates students to completely disassemble and rebuild an entire tractor.  The experience will have a lasting impact in whatever field they choose in the future.”

Congratulations and best of luck to all of this year’s participants, and thank you for your initiative and dedication. Finalists will be notified on September 11th, with final presentations scheduled for October 25th and 26th, and the awards presentation on October 25th.