The annual Iowa Mennonite School FFA Tractor Driving Contest was held Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in the Lower Deer Creek Church parking lot. Seventeen students participated in the event, and three students learned how to drive a tractor. The tractor-driving contest is designed to give students a chance to compete with others in demonstrating their knowledge of tractor maintenance and their skill in safe tractor operation. This contest is also geared toward maintaining and increasing student interest in tractor safety.
This contest began in the fall of 1978 under the instruction of Ray Myers. Sixteen students participated that year.  First place went to James Hershey; second place went to Garry Leichty; and third place went to Nolan Hostetler. All were in the class of 1979. Thirty years have since passed, and the contest has continued on as a tradition at IMS. FFA members look forward to the annual event every fall.
The contest is made up of four different parts. Students must first complete -- and pass -- a written examination that covers all areas of tractor safety, maintenance and operation. Secondly, students record the faults found on a tractor (troubleshooting), which relate to daily maintenance and routine tractor checkups. Thirdly, there is a two-wheel driving event in which students are asked to drive a manure spreader through a maze and back into a stall with a limited amount of clearance. Finally, in the four-wheel driving contest students pull a wagon from one stall and back into another stall with a limited amount of clearance. The object of this contest is to complete every objective correctly and come out with the lowest score. This year's winner of the tractor-driving contest was senior Lincoln Schrock.  Lukas Yoder, a junior, came in second, while junior Jason Litwiller took third.
The Iowa Mennonite FFA would like to thank the judges: Maynard Gingerich, Verlyn Yoder, Lee Miller and Michael Leichty for taking time to assist with the contest. Many thanks also to the area people who loaned their equipment, and the local businesses (BT Farms - Brent Yoder; Farmers Supply Sales, Inc.; Home Gas, Inc.; Progressive Grower Solutions - Terry Erb; Twin County Dairy, Inc.; Y & H Trucking) for supporting the contest! Many thanks again for helping make the Tractor Driving Contest a success!