Tractors ranging in size from the very small to the very large were driven to school and parked on the front lawn, where they would remain for the school day. One of the first to arrive early Friday morning was Senior class FFA member Dustin Sheldon, whose uncle, Jeff Miller, loaned his very large 1984 John Deere.

“This is one of the fun things we get to do during the school year,” Sheldon said. “I’ve been in FFA all four years of high school. I really like it because it deals with agriculture and the outdoors.

“I’ll graduate from BOCES soon, with a concentration is Conservation. Besides being fun, FFA teaches us life skills.”

Dustin’s proud mom, Teresa, explained that the kids used to go on camping trips, which were discontinued due to the expense. “These kids really believe in what they’re doing,” she said.

PVCS Junior and FFA Vice President Heidi Moss with the tractor she drove to school. The Moss family operates a large dairy farm near Conewango Valley. P-J photo by Sue Ann Fish

New to the celebration this year is an American flag and a tractor constructed of plastic milk jugs.

“The flag took us about a month to make, while the tractor, which was a bit more complicated, took us about a month and a half,” said Heidi Moss, chapter vice-president. “The tractor has a metal frame, which the welding students built, as well as a wooden frame. We girls even cut out the plywood for the wheels.”

Moss is currently a junior, but already has plans to go college for agriculture. Her family operates a large dairy farm near Conewango Valley.

Officers for the 2016-17 FFA chapter include: Sheldon; Moss; Hailey Swanson, president; Mylissa Becker, secretary; Mylissa Becker and Megan Stefanik, treasurers; Katelyn Miller, reporter; Derek Thompson, sentinel; Candice Silva, historian; Jon Mosher, alternate; and Madison Herrman, parliamentarian.

Supervising and celebrating with the students was Kelly Wetzler, who serves as interim principal.

Pictured with the smallest tractors of the celebration are Madison Moshet, Brodie Sercu and Dakota Loop. P-J photo by Sue Ann Fish

“I’ve been here nearly three years now, and I love it,” Wetzler said. “This school has great kids.”