Northeast Bradford student FFA members who were integral to the construction of an award-winning landscape display at this year’s PA Farm Show included (above, from left) Madalyn Smith, Malachi Taylor, (kneeling) Adam Keir, Carson Vrabel, Quentin Johnson, Mackenzie Clark, (standing) Sophia Tice and Abby Keeney. and (not pictured) Luke Russell and Kale Howard.
Story and photos by Rick Hiduk
(originally published in the Farmers Friend)
Members of the Northeast Bradford High School (NEB) FFA had a spectacular year at the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show, held from Jan. 4 to 11 in Harrisburg. In addition to garnering a Most Improved award for their restoration of an old garden tractor – a repeat feat after last year’s Farm Show win – they also clinched two first-place ribbons in the landscape design and installation contest, as well as first place a second year in a row for the thesis detailing the exhibit and the work that went in to it.
“That’s a separate contest,” said NEB FFA adviser and ag teacher Michala Forrest, giving credit for the back-to-back win to FFA member Eden Dewing for writing the successful theme statement.
“It’s important that we know what kind of feelings that we were trying to evoke in the design, the direction they wanted to go and where they ended up,” Eden said of her approach to the essay about the landscape display.
In addition to Eden, Madalyn Smith, Malachi Taylor, Adam Keir, Carson Vrabel, Quentin Johnson, Mackezie Clark, Abby Keeney, Sophia Tice, Luke Russell and Kale Howland were also focused on the landscape project. Local businesses, including Johnson Stone Quarries and Tioga Gardens, contributed material supplies for the project. Members expressed gratitude to Joe Vrabel for the use of his stone saw, and Kevin Johnson was thanked for loaning his trailer to move the pieces to Harrisburg.
“The design definitely followed this year’s theme – texture and lines – very well,” Abby related. She estimated that it took the team about six hours to put everything together on their preliminary trip to the Farm Show Complex in the week leading up to the event. They forgot to bring the proper tools to cut the sod strips, so they had to rend them by hand. “It took a lot of strength,” said Abby.
Carson cut the wood strips and built the back drop, and Sophia concentrated on the plants, FFA tiles, mulch, and rocks. The finished exhibit featured three walkways of varying slate and paver stone patterns, Boston ferns and other plants, and the letters F-F-A cut out from the sturdy plank backdrop, stuffed with ivy from behind that resulted in an especially eye-catching effect.
Officially, the team took first place in Overall Display, first place for their themed statement, and first place for Physical Landscape Display. When asked why he felt the students did so much better this year than in their previous attempts, Quentin said, “It’s smaller. It was easier to haul and put together.”
Carson and Adam took the lead on the tractor project, following contest guidelines of 16 horsepower or under, 1985 or earlier, and an internal combustion engine. The tractor was in rough shape when the FFA purchased it from its owner in Canandaigua, NY, after coming across it on Facebook Marketplace. They are still unsure of its exact age, as the model didn’t change much from 1948 to 1958, except that parts could be added to it over time.
“It was originally built as a walk-behind,” Carson explained, adding that manufacturer “Page Milwaukee would contract with local blacksmiths to add pieces.” The company’s line was eventually bought out by Pioneer.
“Every one is different,” Adam noted. “That’s what makes this unique, because there’s not another one like it.”
In addition to the remaining paint being several different colors – perhaps because of modifications over time, NEB ag mechanics teacher and FFA adviser Rob Robbins said, “When we opened up the transmission, there was nothing there.”
With no catalog from which to order replacement parts, the students of NEB’s new Ag Machine Maintenance Course studied the mechanisms and worked on the tractor for several months, fabricating from scratch what the tractor needed.
“We rebuilt the engine. We didn’t send any parts out to have the re-manufactured,” Adam maintained.
As for the dry-rotted tires, “There was no replacing them. We had to repair them.”
According to Robbins, “It does run, but it’s not fully operational. Once it is, the chapter will sell it.” In the meantime, any readers with knowledge of Wisconsin ABN engines are encouraged to chime in on the Northeast Bradford FFA Facebook page with whatever they know.
The NEB students were initially supposed to return to Harrisburg on Jan. 6 to attend the annual PA FFA Mid-Winter Convention, but a snow storm that primarily affected the state’s southern tier prevented them from traveling. Instead, 45 FFA members boarded bus on the morning of Jan. 9 to see as much of they could of the Farm Show in one day. The Complex has 24 acres of animals and other ag-related exhibits under one roof. Their projects were clearly displayed in the Giant Expo Center, which serves as the main entry point for the majority of the tens of thousands of people who visit each year.
Among the NEB FFA students who are working on the restoration of this Page Milwaukee garden tractor that won them a Most Improved Award at the PA Farm Show in January were (from left) Ethan Campbell, Adam Keir, Carson Vrabel, and Malachi Taylor.