Sussex Tech senior Andy Duvall excels in FFA Tractor Driving at Delaware State Fair
Sussex Technical High School senior Andy Duvall of Millsboro placed third in the 2013 FFA Tractor Driving event at the Delaware State Fair. Andy competed against a field of about 20 other FFA members from across the state and was able to improve on his seventh-place finish in 2012.
The purpose of the Tractor Driving event is for FFA members to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and proficiencies related to the safe operation, maintenance and driving skills of tractors and skid-steer loaders. The contest is composed of six parts: written test, tools/tractor parts identification, two-wheeled manure spreader skills event, four-wheeled trailer skills event, tractor loader skills event and skid-loader skills event.
The written test includes 50 questions centered on the skill, safe operation and operator maintenance of a tractor. The tools/parts ID requires students to identify mechanic tools and tractor parts from a gas or diesel tractor. Up to 30 tools and parts are identified. They may include a torque wrench, open-end wrench, flywheel, piston, starter, etc.
The four skills events - two-wheeled manure spreader, four-wheeled trailer, tractor loader and skid-loader - test the skill and ability of the contestant to operate skid-loaders, tractors and equipment safely.
