Students show well with restored tractor

Contributed Photo Good Work! The El Campo FFA Ag Mechanics tractor team of Will Chappell (left) and Cody Gangl won second place overall in the tractor restoration division of the San Antonio Livestock Show and 3rd place at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

After two-and-a-half days of stiff competition, the El Campo FFA Ag Mechanics tractor team was awarded second place overall in the tractor restoration division of the San Antonio Livestock Show.

From Feb. 15 through Feb. 17, the team, consisting of Will Chappell and Cody Gangl, competed in the grueling San Antonio contest.

Led and assisted by Morgan and Debbie Chappell, the boys bought and restored a somewhat rare 1951 John Deere Model "R" tractor to its authentic and original condition.

Each team in the competition was judged on the authenticity of the tractor restoration, how well the tractor performed, the ability of the team to operate the tractor, and the overall knowledge of the team members about the tractor they showed.

The contestants were judged from the minute the tractor touched the ground until results were announced on Sunday, Feb. 17.

Keeping the tractor clean and presentable at all times, answering questions from judges as well as bystanders, and greeting everyone that passed by kept them constantly on their toes.

As Chappell said, the experience was "exciting, but exhausting."

Chappell and Gangl competed next at the Houston Livestock Show Ag Mechanics tractor contest and received third place in their division.

They competed against more than 20 tractors in the 1946- 1960 class, facing competitors from Texarkana to Vega (west of Amarillo) and all the way down to Floresville in the Rio Grande Valley.