Baker High Senior Crowned State Champion in Tractor Driving
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – A Baker High student can now add the title of state champion to his resume.
17-year-old Ben Coburn of Durkee recently took first place in the Oregon FFA State Tractor Driving Championships at the Oregon State Fair in Salem.
On top of being named Overall State Champion, Ben also won first place in Pallet Loading.
“It’s really cool and I feel great about it because I didn’t think it would go that well, but it did.” said Ben.
He brings home a state champion belt buckle, a banner, as well as bragging right for being the top tractor driver.
Ben, who lives at his family cattle ranch in Durkee, tells Elkhorn Media Group he’s been driving tractors ever since his feet could reach the pedal. On top of competing in tractor driving, he also shows steers and hogs at county fair events and also does livestock judging for the FFA.
He said as part of the competition for tractor driving, he had to go through a timed obstacle course on a tractor, on top of hooking up equipment like a mower to the tractor and also stacking pallets with buckets of water on them.
“If you spill even one drop of water, you’re basically finished,” said Ben.
Ben, who will be a senior at Baker High this upcoming school year, says he’s also working to achieve his heavy machinery certification from Baker Technical Institute.
“I’d like to become a diesel technician and run large equipment, hopefully maybe own my own construction equipment outfit one day,” said Ben.
