CHARLESTON, Ill. — The Charleston FFA Chapter from Illinois has just completed its fourth tractor restoration project. The 2011 project was a 1956 Farmall 400.

This particular tractor had not run for 40 years after suffering a scored piston. After being taken in by several well-intentioned owners, the Charleston FFA purchased the tractor as a “parts tractor” in 2009 for its Super M project. As the year progressed, the FFA evaluated the once-proud tractor and saw a new restoration possibility.

This sparked a new parts search for its next project: The Magnificent 400. Major problems the FFA encountered were the lifters and crankshaft being rusted in place after four decades of dormancy. Another serious issue was the torque converter being out.

Typically, 6-8 FFA members worked at a time, usually after school. After a total of 1,500 hours, they finally completed the project. Huge support came from local businesses and area parts dealers, and two local implement dealers and the Case IH Corp. helped out with donations of supplies for the tractor.

This tractor has been raffled off as a fundraiser. The proceeds go toward the chapter’s next tractor project and funding trips such as leadership conferences and conventions. Tickets were available for $10 each and were for sale at the Half Century of Progress show in Rantoul and at the Case IH booth at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill., this year. Tickets were also available at several local businesses and at the Coles County Fair.

Tickets were also sold to people all over the United States and in several foreign countries, such as New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Brazil and Argentina. The winner of the tractor was Roscoe Nichols of Neoga, Ill., and there were also $50 winners from as many as five states, including Illinois, Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan and Kentucky.

The Charleston chapter stated: “We are very proud of our ticket sellers and our tractor team for all of their time and effort. We are looking forward to another great tractor restoration next year – our 1947 Farmall M!”