Lompoc FFA, Finalist, 2009 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition

Before you start looking for a classic or any pre-owned tractor for use on your farm, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, do not become captivated from nostalgia. Getting and rebuilding a vintage tractor can be a marvelous rewarding hobby to engage in. But it can also turn into a pricey one.

Since 1995, the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition (www.chevrondelotrc.com) has rewarded the determination, mechanical skills and business savvy of high school aged FFA members from around the country. Through the restoration of an antique tractor, participants develop skills applicable to the modern business world. The skills needed for success in the program - equipment maintenance, teamwork, project management, budgeting, planning and marketing - help develop the participants into future leaders in the agriculture community.

Before beginning to hunt for your tractor, be certain you understand what you truly want. This may well appear too simple, but it is easy to become side tracked and acquire something that you did not start out to find. Only if you are able to prepare an itemized list of the requirements should you commence the search. Don't forget to incorporate the technical and performance requirements in the listing. If you do not know exactly what you're searching for, how are you going to decide how and where to search?

If you are sincerely looking for a vintage tractor, be careful and not let enthusiasm get the best of you. If you do, you may well be in difficulty before you begin your project. Rebuilding an antique tractor or other old farm implement is satisfying. However it's not an overnight project moreover it can become costly very swiftly. Components for lots of old tractors are available however some are difficult to find and may be on the spendy side. Original tires could be difficult to locate and reproduction tires can cost more than your tractor. You may discover that instead of buying a project tractor, it would be just as gratifying to procure one that someone else has already put all of the time, effort and expense into. Odds are favorable that you could acquire it for less money than the owner put into it, to say nothing about all of his labor.

Test any tractor prior to deciding to buy it. Do you find it simple to get started and seem, sound and feel right? Are the tires in good shape? Is there any kind of hydraulic leakage noticeable? Do you observe any missing pieces or equipment? Be certain and give equally close an inspection to any attachments. Finally, make sure that a vintage tractor truly fulfills the needs of the job you want it for. It's tough to go wrong with an antique tractor like a John Deere if you shop carefully.