Ryan Haass of the Devine, Texas FFA Chapter went for two wins in a row when he took home the Grand Champion title in the 2012 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition with the restoration of a 1970 Case 1070.
By: Lauren Schwab, National FFA Convention & Expo Newsroom Intern
The Delo Tractor Restoration Competition began in 1995 to recognize and reward the creativity, technical aptitude and business knowledge of high school students who restore tractors for fun. Participants develop teamwork, project management, budget management, planning and marketing skills. All of these new skills will enable them to become future leaders in the agriculture community.
After months of hard work, Ryan Haass of the Devine, Texas FFA Chapter relied on his experience from the 2011 competition to help him face another tough round of questions from the panel of judges. Haass was crowned the 2011 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition winner with his 1960 Case 530. The next year, he went two for two when he took home the 2012 title with the restoration of a rare 1970 Golden Case 1070 Demonstrator. Haass and his Golden Demonstrator will be at the Chevron booth during this year’s National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky.
Finalists are invited to present their projects at the National FFA Convention & Expo where the winner is announced. This year, 12 finalists are vying for the honor. Haass was crowned during the 85th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis and received a $10,000 prize. It’s quite an accomplishment to win the national tractor restoration competition, but winning it two years in a row has only happened once before, according to Delo.
Following in his siblings’ footsteps, Haass began restoring his father’s and grandfather’s tractors. “I began entering local tractor restoration competitions in Texas. I learned it was extremely important to be knowledgeable of the entire tractor and its components in order to be successful,” says Haass. This is his eighth tractor restoration and he is thrilled with his second win. Haass is attending Tarleton State University in Fort Worth, Texas studying business administration. He is taking a break from tractor restoration, but plans to open a diesel performance business in the future.
Chevron’s Delo Tractor Restoration Competition is open to any high school−aged team or individual who restores a tractor and completes the required documentation. For more information, visit www.DeloTractorRestorationCompetition.com.
Lauren Schwab is a former FFA member from Somerville, Ohio. She is a graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and Master of Science in family studies. She currently works full-time on her family farm. Contact her at schwablm@miamioh.edu.
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