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NYS FFA contests’ pre-registration now open

SENECA FALLS — Pre-registration is now open for both the 2018 NYS FFA Welding Competition and the 2018 NYS FFA Tractor Driving Safety Competition. Both events will be held on Thursday, Aug. 9 at Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls. Students may also register at the show on the day of the contests.

Students in grades 9-12 who wish to pre-register for the 2018 New York State FFA Welding Competition have until July 14 to do so by contacting contest coordinators Johanna Bossard, (315) 824-6386, jbossard@hamiltoncentral.org or Professor Fred Bach, Morrisville State College, (315) 684-6299, bachfw@morrisville.edu. A list of equipment to bring will be provided.

Students from age 14 to 18 may pre-register through July 30 for the 2018 New York State FFA Tractor Driving Safety Contest by contacting coordinator Jon Clayson at Pioneer Central School at JClayson@pioneercsd.org. FFA members are judged in two age divisions; 4-H members who are not FFA members compete in a separate division.

Morrisville State College, Haun Welding and Briggs and Stratton Power Products of Munnsville sponsor the NYS FFA Welding Competition that includes judging of individual and team pair performance completing three welds with two different types of welding equipment provided by Haun Welding. Contestants also compete in oxy-acetylene torch cutting, a metal identification quiz,and multiple-choice quiz, and are judged on professional appearance, attitude, preparedness and safety.

Active FFA students are scored for $2,250 in scholarship funds: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place from Morrisville State College. High Team performance is recognized with a certificate.

NYS FFA Tractor Driving Safety Competition Coordinator Jay Clayson advises students to practice their driving skills and study for the written exam and suggests visiting the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health website at www.nycamh.org for educational resources.

The annual contest tests the ability to safely drive a farm tractor with a 2-wheel and 4-wheel wagon attached. The students will be driving brand new 4×4 55 to 75 horsepower tractors provided by the contest sponsors. The judging is rigorous and includes a written exam and how well the contestants can identify tractor parts in addition to the driving course. The Senior Division winner goes on to compete at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA, in September.

“This contest helps build farm safety awareness in our youth through developing proper tractor operation to compete successfully and to practice at home on the farm. Supporting their children in this contest also helps remind families to keep safety on the farm a priority,” says Clayson.

Sponsors for the 2018 NYS FFA Tractor Driving Safety Contest include Case International, John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, H&S Farm Equipment, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, Java Farm Supply, Lamb and Webster, and the New York FFA Foundation.

The two FFA competitions are among the full range of activities, demonstrations, exhibits, and equipment at Empire Farm Days, the largest outdoor agricultural trade show in the northeastern U.S. Learn more at www.empirefarmdays.com or call 877-697-7837.

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