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Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School hosted its Drive Your Tractor To School Day Thursday in recognition of National Agriculture Week. (Submitted)

A John Deere 8285R driven by Blake Hartsell. (Submitted)

Jackson Bement's 45,000-pound Case IH Steiger 350 with a diesel engine. (Submitted)

Jered Wellman’s Case 580 backhoe. (Submitted)

Mason Smego's gasoline-powered, open station 1968 John Deere 3020. (Submitted)

Olivia Hayden's 235 Magnum. (Submitted)

Owen Eaton's John Deere 7700. (Submitted)

CASSOPOLIS — 145,000 pounds of iron and more than 1,400 horsepower was on display Thursday morning at Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School.

The school hosted its Drive Your Tractor To School Day in recognition of National Agriculture Week. National Ag week runs March 17 to 23. The Cassopolis FFA chapter celebrated with several activities throughout the week, including Drive Your Tractor To School Day. 

“Ag Week gives us a chance to show the school and community a little taste of what we do outside of school,” said Chapter Treasurer Jackson Bement.

Students had the opportunity to show this by driving a tractor to school and parking it in a special spot to display it in front of the school. Six tractors participated, ranging from Mason Smego’s gasoline-powered, open station 1968 John Deere 3020 – rated at approximately 70 horsepower – to Jackson Bement’s 45,000-pound Case IH Steiger 350 with a diesel engine putting out more than 440 horses. 

Other machines representing the two major brands of farm equipment were a John Deere 8285R driven by Blake Hartsell, a John Deere 7700 driven by Owen Eaton and a 235 Magnum driven by Olivia Hayden.  Even a piece of construction equipment was represented with Jered Wellman’s Case 580 backhoe, proudly flying an American flag from the boom. 

“This day shows how a younger generation can get work done,” said Owen Eaton, who has been looking forward to this day for over a month.

Students who were not able to drive a tractor were still able to participate in the celebration of agriculture with today’s dress up day that went along with the theme:  red vs. green day. 

“More communities should do this,” said senior Blake Hartsell.

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