Texas Teen Restores 44-year-old John Deere to Become Grand Champion
INDIANAPOLIS (October 29, 2024) – Chevron Products Company, a Chevron U.S.A. Inc. division, maker of the Delo🄬 brand of technologically advanced engine oils, lubricants and coolants, announced today that the Grand Champion winner of this year’s 27th Annual Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition (TRC) is Tyler Billings of Floresville, Texas for restoring a 1980 John Deere 4440.
Teens from across the United States competed in this STEM initiative last week in Indianapolis during the 2024 National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Expo. This year’s full list of winners are as follows:
- Grand Champion: Tyler Billings, Floresville, TX – 1980 John Deere 4440
- Reserve Champion: Trey Schronk, Hillsboro, TX – 1959 John Deere 730 Diesel
- Third Place: Samantha Williams, Atascadero, California – 1948 Ford 8N
- Cathy McCarty Hendrix Mentor of the Year: Austin Thorson, nominated by Benjamin Reed and Landon Rehberg, Delevan, Wisconsin
- Safety Award: Tyler Billings
- Best Presentation: Katie Bryan, Richlands, North Carolina – 1950 John Deere Model A
- Best Photo: Garrett Mills, Mount Ulla, North Carolina – 1952 Oliver 66 Diesel
- Fan Favorite: Reiley Houtz, Paso Robles, CA
- Fan Favorite Runner-Up: Katie Bryan
For his win, Tyler Billings was awarded $10,000 for first place as Grand Champion, and an additional $10,000 in cash and prizes were awarded across the other aforementioned contestants.
“This year was one of the strongest, most compelling competitions in Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition history,” said Walt M. Collier, Americas Commercial Sector Manager, Chevron. “We would like to thank our newest Grand Champion Tyler Billings and every teen who put the time, hard work, and commitment in to restoring our collective agricultural history. These builds take all year long, and you are breaking the stereotypes for an entire generation.”
Each tractor restoration project was graded on the overall process, safety precautions, results, documentation, and their oral presentation. Judges are comprised of industry experts and former Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition (TRC) champions with decades of hands-on experience and involvement in the industry.
For more information on the Chevron TRC, visit:Â
About the Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition
Since 1997, the Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition has rewarded the determination, mechanical skills, and business savvy of high school tractor restoration experts from around the country. The skills needed for success in the program – equipment mechanics, teamwork, project management, budgeting, planning and marketing, networking, presentation skills, and confidence – help develop the participants into future leaders in the agriculture community and the modern business world.
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Chevron’s Delo Product Family
Chevron’s Delo product family includes engine oils, premium lubricants and extended life coolants that provide premium performance and bottom-line value for diesel powered vehicles. All Delo products are covered under the Delo Warranty Plus program, which provides bumper-to-bumper protection against lubricant and coolant related failures as described in the Delo Warranty.
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Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
