The competition is designed to foster hands-on learning, critical thinking, and teamwork among high school students, while also celebrating the rich heritage of agricultural machinery.
There will also be roughly $20,000 in prize money awarded, with the top three prizes being:
- Grand Champion: $10,000
- Reserve Champion: $5,000
- Third Place: $3,000
The Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition imparts skills in problem-solving, project management, and restoration. Ethan Van Delden of San Antonio, Texas, was crowned the 2022 Chevron Tractor Restoration Grand Champion and won $10,000 for restoring a 1965 Oliver 770 tractor.
“Being Grand Champion has been life changing. The program gave me the opportunity to share my passion for tractor restoration, meet new people and improve my public speaking and presentation skills,” Van Delden said. “Through the restoration process, I have learned about setting goals, time management and organizational skills that I will need in the future. I have gained more knowledge about the inner workings of engines, transmissions and hydraulics, and I also learned that through hard work and determination anything is possible.”
To enter the Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition, students should understand the following competition details:
- Eligibility: The competition is open to all high school students in the United States, aged 14 to 18. Participants can enter individually or as part of a team with a maximum of seven members.
- Entry Requirements: Entrants should select a pre-1980 vintage tractor powered by an internal combustion engine that is in need of restoration; the vintage tractor can be any make or model.
- Selection Criteria: Entries will be evaluated based on the quality and craftsmanship of the restoration, project documentation, safety procedures, and overall presentation, among other factors.
- Application Process: Interested participants must submit their entries online through the Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition website. The submission deadline is August 14, 2023. Late entries will not be accepted.
Chevron’s competition has been going on since 1997 and is celebrated for its use of equipment mechanics, teamwork, project management, budgeting, planning and marketing, networking, presentation skills, and confidence for students.
