FFA team dominates tractor competition at state fair
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
After this year's Kansas State Fair, one thing's for sure: Goessel FFA students know tractors.
The Goessel FFA team of Mark Voth and Zane Unrau brought their tractors — and knowledge of tractors — to the state fair last week and came away with impressive finishes.
In the tractor restoration category, Voth was named Grand Champion with his 1948 Allis-Chalmers Model C. Unrau took third place with his 1936 John Deere Model D.
Tractor restoration is a state fair event for Kansas FFA chapters — it's not related to 4-H, Unrau said.
Both students, who are seniors this year, began the painstaking tractor restoration process in the fall of 2001. They were each able to work on their individual tractors during school hours, but they also put in plenty of time after school and during summer vacation.
Voth estimates that he spent at least 340 hours restoring his tractor inside and out.
His first choice, in the summer of 2001, was a 1941 Allis-Chalmers, but after he brought the tractor home he soon realized it would entail much more work than he'd expected. So by late September, he found a 1948 model that was in better condition.
Voth took his tractor completely apart, restoring both the exterior and the engine. The tractor can now be driven.
Unrau also started restoring his John Deere last fall, in August of 2001. When he first got the tractor, it was very rusty and the engine was stuck, Unrau said.
Over the course of the school year, Unrau was able to spend a 45-minute class period working on the machine each day. He also put in time after school, on weekends, and during the summer.
Unrau's tractor also runs fine, but the longest trip it's likely to take now is in a parade, he said.
The tractor restoration competition consisted of three sections: first and foremost, the restored tractor; second, a display board complete with detailed photos and text describing the restoration; and third, an interview with a judge describing the process.
The competitors were also required to start the tractors for the judges, but they weren't required to drive them.
For taking Grand Champion, Voth won $300 in college scholarship money and $75 in cash. Unrau also took home some funds for winning, but he didn't remember the exact amount.
But those amounts don't compare to the dollars going into both students' tractors. Voth spent $2,200 in restoring his Allis-Chalmers, which includes the purchase of the 1941 model, and Unrau spent $1,400, they said.
Taking first and third in the tractor restoration competition is impressive in itself — but the Goessel team of Unrau and Voth also performed well in the tractor troubleshooting contest.
The contest tests the competitor's knowledge with four sections: precision measurement, a written test, parts identification, and troubleshooting a struggling tractor.
Most of the problems they encountered were electrical, Voth and Unrau said.
As a team, the duo took first place in the state. Individually, Unrau took first place, while Voth took second.
Around 16 teams competed in the tractor troubleshooting competition, Unrau said.
FFA sponsor and Goessel High School ag teacher Justin Schrag was impressed by the students' efforts.
"A clean sweep by one chapter is pretty rare," he said.
