Thirty-four contestants from across Nebraska competed in the 2008 Nebraska Tractor Operators' Contest at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln April 7. Five participated in the 4-H and 29 in the FFA categories, including Jacob Dexter of Central City who one of three FFA top winners.
Each of the top three in each class received a scale model John Deere tractor and trophy. The first place finishers in each category are awarded a one-time $500 scholarship if they enroll in a College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources program at UNL. This award is sponsored by the CASNR dean's office.
John Deere awards $500 to the first, second and third place winners who enroll in the John Deere Dealer Management program at UNL or the John Deere Ag Technology or Ag Parts programs at Southeast Community College-Milford during the next enrollment period.
Trenten Friesen of Henderson and Grant Melotz of Omaha, who won their respective categories in 2007, while not eligible for the scholarship awards, each received a trophy for having the best overall scores in each class.
Contestants completed a written test covering tractor safety, operations and performance; identified ten tractor or machinery components; performed a tractor safety inspection; maneuvered a tractor and two wheel trailer and a tractor and a four wheel trailer through obstacle courses in a specified time limit. Both courses required backing the trailer into a stall; the two wheel event also required backing through a serpentine path.
The contest is sponsored annually by the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, John Deere, Platte Valley Equipment and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Nebraska's contest is the only central region event sponsored by John Deere's College Liaison program. The 2009 contest will be held April 4 at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory at UNL immediately following the Nebraska FFA Convention.
