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LBHS FFA students Jake Graham and Ricky Phoenix won the state tractor trouble shooting contest. Stuart Byrd, the team sponsor, is in the back middle.

On Sept. 24th Ricky Phoenix and Jake Gray placed first in the State Tractor Troubleshooting contest at the State Fair of Virginia. In order to compete in a state FFA event students must prove themselves to be the best by beating out competition at the school level, federation level and finally the area level.
This is a team event where students learn to work together diagnosing common problems that you might find on a farm tractor that has broken down on the farm. Overall the contest consists of three main parts. First students have to take a 25 question written test about safety, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a farm tractor. Second they have to diagnose mechanical problems of five tractors. Third they draw a random tractor and have to make the necessary repairs to the tractor. The Lord Botetourt FFA would like to extend a special thanks to Blue Ridge Farm Center for sponsoring the team and Mr. Chuck Pound, LB's Athletic director, for his donation of time and effort in helping the team make it to state.