Delo® Tractor Restoration Competition Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is eligible to compete in the competition?
A: Only High School students are eligible to compete in the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition (TRC).The finals are held at the National FFA Convention each year. If you are not a high school student during the restoration period and are not affiliated with the FFA you cannot participate in our competition.
Q: Why have you eliminated the Chapter and Individual categories?
A: Chevron makes it a priority to constantly improve the TRC program. Working closely with the judges, we determined it was actually more difficult for the judges to have to score an “individual” project. By competing together, judges can focus on all of the elements of the program, such as the quality of the restoration.
Q. Can I/we have help?
A: We encourage parents, Ag teachers and FFA Advisors to be active in your restoration project from an advisory standpoint. They should be there to offer help with questions, explain best practices, observe and enforce safety precautions, and be your go-to person for any questions. However, this is a student project. Advisors and parents should not be completing the workbooks or restoring tractor components without student involvement.
Q: Where do I begin? Where do I get a tractor?
A: While Chevron sponsors this competition, we do not typically provide or have any specific knowledge as to where you can get a tractor. It’s up to you to find a tractor. Drive around your town or rural surrounding areas. Check the papers to see if anyone is selling an antique tractor. Go to an auction. Check with your FFA Advisor – he/she may be able to assist you in finding a tractor. If you are interested in restoring an Oliver tractor, you can contact the Hart Parr Oliver Club: www.hartparroliver.org
Q: What kind of tractor am I looking for?
A: There aren't many rules regarding the types of tractors that you can restore for this competition. We don't have a rule regarding the age of the tractor or the make of the tractor. However, it does need to be a tractor that, in its past life, was an important working member of the farm. This program is sponsored by Delo. If your tractor doesn't need any lubricants...it's probably not the right type of tractor. If you are in doubt, please feel free to contact the TRC Coordinator at: 888-385-4026 or email her at: christaw@allen-martin.com.
Q: I’ve registered and downloaded the Workbook file, but it won’t open on my computer? What’s wrong?
A: Most likely, you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader or a more current version installed on your computer. You may download Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com. A link is provided below to locate the Reader download. This link will take you to the site where you can download Acrobat for free. If you are sure you have the most current version and still can’t get the file to open, contact the TRC Coordinator, listed above, and she will assist you in getting the workbook.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Q: I’ve registered for the program and downloaded my Official TRC Workbook and what if I don’t get my project finished?
A: Registering to get the workbook does not, in any way, OBLIGATE you to submit the workbook for the current year’s competition. We know that finishing a project such as this is hard work and you have other priorities. Feel free to use the workbook as a guide as you go along during your project. We accept past year’s workbook pages from any given year. It is recommended that you download the most current workbook to make sure there are no changes to the program or the guidelines.
Q: Why can’t I type directly onto the document I downloaded?
A: The downloaded workbook is in a PDF format and you may not be able to directly edit the file on your computer. You are not required to use the provided header sheets. They are meant to be used as guidelines. One option is to type up your descriptions in MS Word and set your top margins the way our pages are laid out.
When you are ready to print out your workbook, you may use the template pages like letterhead and print out your workbook by feeding the template pages through your printer.
If you do not use the provided sheets, you don’t have to include them in the final workbook. Just include the description page and your sheets. You may hand-write your descriptions but it must be neat and legible. And make sure to spell check!
Q: How do I submit the workbook?
A: We now accept workbooks in the following formats:
a.) 3-ring binder: NO larger than 1.5”. Do NOT overstuff the binder and do
NOT use heavy paper, except for pictures (optional).
b.) Spiral-bound notebook
c.) CD: Scan each page and place it all on a CD. However, if you are
selected as a finalist, be prepared to bring your original binder to the
final competition.
Q: What SHOULD be in the workbook?
A: Your workbook should definitely be creative! It’s the gateway to becoming a finalist. Make it colorful and visual. However, keep in mind that we do make copies of all your books, so please try to avoid typing your descriptions on darkly colored paper. Your workbook can be whatever you want…it can look like a scrapbook, or a formal presentation. Whatever you are most comfortable with. We frequently scan in some of your before & after pictures for this Web site and for publicity opportunities, so try to avoid cropping or shaping ALL of your before & after pictures. For more information, please refer to the SAMPLE WORKBOOKS section here.
Q: When do I need to get my Official TRC Workbook to you?
A: The deadline for workbook submissions is September 4th, 2009, but it is best if you try to get your workbook in early.
Q: This project is hard…and EXPENSIVE! Any ideas?
A: There are several ways to ease the financial burden of this project. Fundraise! Have a bake sale, do community chores, place a story in the paper about your project and see the response you get. You’ll be surprised how many people in your town will come out to get involved! Don’t try to do this all by yourselves. Use your resources! Delo sponsors the program…so try going to a local store that sells Chevron Motor Oils and ask if they’ll donate the lubricants needed for your restoration project. If you don’t have an agriculture shop at your school, see if you can get tools donated, or workshop space donated. It’s not as hard as you might think--just ask!
Q: What happens after I mail my Official TRC Workbook to you?
A: Once all workbooks are received a small panel of judges will select the competition finalists. All selected finalists will be contacted and notified by mail. We will also post those finalists and the resulting winners on this site so be sure and check back.
Q: I’m a Finalist! What happens now?
A: Congratulations! Finalists are notified by mail and the next step is the final competition held at the National FFA Convention. Individuals and chapter representatives will travel to the competition to present on their restoration project to the judging panel. All participants are responsible for their travel expenses.
Once selected as a finalist, be sure to make arrangements as soon as possible to attend the convention. You don’t need to bring your tractors with you--just you and/or your team, and your parents/guardians/FFA Advisors.
Q: What happens at the finals during the FFA convention?
A: At the finals, we have a panel of excellent judges who are all in the business of tractor restoration. You will conduct an oral presentation to them about your restoration project. In this presentation you will use public speaking to reiterate what you have documented in your workbook. Feel free to use any type of visual display – PowerPoint Presentations, Storyboards, actual parts from the old tractor, etc. But we want to hear you speak too! We want to get a sense of who you are, what you’re like and what you learned. You may also include your video in the presentation but it is not necessary or mandatory as the judges will already have viewed it.
After you give your presentation, there is a Q&A period where the judges can ask you questions about your presentation and/or your project. Be prepared to know specifics about tasks that you performed and your documentation. But don’t be scared…our judges don’t bite…usually, anyway.
Q: What?! An Oral Presentation?! Yikes! What should I do?!
A: Ok, breathe. Don’t be scared. Oral presentations can be lots of fun! The most important part of giving an oral presentation is keeping your audience’s interest peaked.
If you’re making the presentation as a team, you might start with a skit about your project or something that happened. If you have a PowerPoint presentation, include some funny pictures. It’s PERFECTLY acceptable to have your talking points written on cue cards or index cards with you up there. We know how easy it is to lose your train of thought when you’re nervous. While it’s awesome if you can memorize your speech…don’t feel obligated to. We want you to be totally comfortable up there. So do whatever you need to, to be comfortable.
Q: What happens after I give my presentation?
A: The presentations are given over the span of two days during the National FFA Convention, on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, you will be invited to an awards ceremony. We will recognize and award prizes to all finalists, and then we will announce the Reserve and Grand Champions. But don’t forget…You Are All Winners. This is hard work and you should be proud of yourselves regardless of the outcome.
Q: Who is invited to the Awards Ceremony?
A: All finalists will receive notification and must respond to the notification. We will need to know from all finalists how many people to expect at the competition. Anyone is welcome -- your family, your chapter, your advisors…within reason. We need to know how many to expect ahead of time.
