Friday Morning Tractorcade
Highlight of Farm Week
At Como-Pickton

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

When was the last time you drove a tractor to school? That was the question that many youth in Como-Pickton School faced this morning, when they came to school on the family tractor. The infamous Como-Pickton Tractorcade is a highlight of the annual Farm Week Celebration, that is conducted at the school, to raise awareness for agriculture. In its twenty-first year, the event "went off without a hitch," on Friday morning, at 9:15 a.m.

These Como-Pickton students and teachers eagerly awaited the starting of the tractorcade that
paraded around their school, on Friday morning.

Students at the school had learned all about the different phases of agriculture, this week, and the parade of tractors around the school, driven by members of the Como-Pickton FFA, was the final event of the celebration. Students were lining the school's portico and eagerly awaiting the tractorcade parade.

Como-Pickton FFA students, top row, Kyle Humphrey, Jan Jacobs, and
Mitchell Walker, and bottom row, Clayton Humphrey, Ryan Carpenter, and Hunter
Cooksey, sport the Tractorcade t-shirts sponsored by Farm Country.

And, Como-Pickton FFA member, Colton Flora, drove this Ford tractor
to school on Friday, to participate in the Tractorcade, at the school.

"Students at the school have learned a variety of agricultural facts and safety tips all week and have looked forward to seeing the parade," allowed one of the elementary school teachers. "What little boy wouldn't want to see a parade of tractors? And, we have some 'tomboys' in our class too!"

Como-Pickton FFA members brought either their own family tractor or possibly borrowed a tractor from a grandparent or a neighbor to participate in the event. And, the some 60 tractors on parade were representative to almost any age and make of tractor found in Hopkins County.

Como-Pickton Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Michael Bowen, had to get a "pull" to get this
tractor started, before the Tractorcade.


And, left to right, Jessica Clark, Vanessa Moreau-Sipiere, and Wade Arnold, get ready to drive their
conveyances in the 21st Annual Como-Pickton Tractorcade.

Local tractor and equipment dealer, Farm Country, provided t-shirts for all of the participating students to wear and aided in the celebration.

"We've had an extremely busy week, this week," allowed Michael Bowen, Vocational Agriculture teacher. "But, it has been a very, very productive week, where students have learned a variety of skills to better their abilities to speak before groups, answer questions 'on their feet,' and become real community leaders."

Local Antique Tractor Mechanic, Claude Walter, left, poses with his antique Allis-Chalmers tractor,
that he brought to the parade at Como-Pickton, on Friday morning.


Former Vocational Agriculture Teacher at Como-Pickton, Gerald Walters, arrives for the tractorcade
on his antique Farmall tractor, in time to meet and greet with some of the students that helped conduct
the Annual Farm Week event, that he started some 21 years ago.

Bowen further stated that many of his students had devoted hours to the planning and implementation of the annual tribute to agriculture and had gained a broad-based knowledge of planning community events. "And, I think that the students who have attended the variety of agricultural seminars, have benefitted, as well," concluded Bowen. "They have learned how to be safer around their home, farm animals, and on the local farmstead. That is well worth all of the work and preparation involved in conducting a program of this magnitude!"

Another teacher in the school system stated, "My students have learned many valuable lessons and to appreciate the many farmers and ranchers that bring food to their tables. And, they really enjoyed the parade of large tractors, especially when their fellow classmates were driving them!"

Youngest driver?........Como-Pickton Elementary School student
Braden Carr, stands beside the cab of his family's Fendt tractor,
as he awaits driving it in Friday's tractocade.

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