Montgomery County senior Jacob Teson was thrilled to drive a tractor to school on a chilly Feb. 26 morning, even though it wasn’t his.

“I think it was Ryan Poston’s tractor,” Teson said. “But he let me drive it. I learned how to do it and I got to school just fine.”

Teson was one of several members from the MCHS FFA chapter who drove their tractors along Highway 19, backing up traffic for several minutes.

Drive Your Tractor Day was one of several events the MCHS FFA chapter participated in during its FFA Week. There were different kinds of tractors in the procession, such as the International Farmall, John Deere and Allis-Chalmers.

“It was fun and it was good to see all of the other people coming and driving their tractors,” said sophomore Owen Hillebrand, who drove his father’s tractor. “We expanded our variety of different brands.”

The Wellsville-Middletown FFA chapter had its Drive Your Tractor Day on Feb. 25. Eight members drove their tractors along Burlington Road.

Freshman Charlie Freie drove his own tractor, which was an International Farmall.

“It’s pretty fun,” Freie said. “I have some issues getting it started. It wouldn’t turn over because it was cold.”

Both MCHS and W-M chapters started their FFA weeks on Feb. 22 by going to church. The MCHS had 26 members go to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jonesburg, while W-M had 11 go to Wellsville United Methodist Presbyterian Church.

MCHS played paintball in Kingdom City on Feb. 23. The group had Anything But A Water Bottle and Frat vs. Farmer Day on Feb. 24 and Official Dress Day on Feb. 25 and held its Supporters BBQ on Feb. 26. It wrapped up its week on Feb. 27 with a field trip to Carhartt.

“FFA Week is probably my favorite week of the year,” Teson said. “Everyone gets really excited.”
Hillebrand said he enjoyed being one of 21 members playing paintball.

“I have never been paintballing, so it was fun to go and it was a new experience,” he said. “It was good to see all of the other people participating in the other events that we do.”

The Supporters BBQ menu included pork steaks, pork burgers, brats, cole slaw, potato salad and baked beans.
Several W-M members went to Jefferson City on Feb. 26 to participate in the Drive Your Tractor to Work Day. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe was in attendance.

“It’s kind of cool to go to the capitol and see him drive a tractor,” sophomore Garrett Poage said.

The W-M chapter wrapped up its week on Feb. 27 by holding its Supporters Breakfast, which included pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy. Also during the week, it had four dress days.

“It’s been pretty good and eventful,” junior Gage Nichols said of the week. “We went to a few different places. We enjoyed ourselves with our friends and supporters.”

Besides Teson and Hillebrand, Kenzie Kelling, Kaylie Davis, Journey Ford, Landon Davis, Karter Reagan, Reed Pottebaum, Keane and Gus Ridgley, William Freymuth, Ashton Roden, Braden Fraunhoeffer, Trice Roden, Kassidy Holmes, Thomas Happ and Brennan Plumb were the other MCHS FFA members who drove their tractors.

Teson said he was thrilled to participate in his final Drive Your Tractor Day.

“There are a lot of lasts and I don’t like a lot of lasts,” he said. “It’s that time of year where we’re happy. We made it through high school. This is our last time doing stuff, so it’s more special. It’s also a grain of salt because you’re sad it’s your last one.”

Poage, Nichols, Charlie Freie, Abbie Freie, Gavyn Moritz, Logan Davis, Victoria Jones, Royce Wilkinson and Colton Gilbert were the W-M members who participated in Drive Your Tractor Day.