Jul. 22—ALEXANDRIA — Participants swerve, weave, make tight turns and reverse their way through an obstacle course as they try their best to steer their tractors without knocking over obstacle golf balls and still having the best time.

Even as the balls begin to fly off their stands, contestants continue their drive onwards, with concentration creasing their faces as they examine the course ahead. Finally, they must drive in reverse and park as close to a golf ball as possible in order to complete the course.

In the tractor driving competition, there are three areas that judges focus on: lawn and garden tractors, zero-turn tractors and agriculture tractors, which have to be driven with a wagon attached.

According to 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator Jessica Scholer, participants have to take a written test, which covers parts identification and general knowledge, as well as a safety check before they get on the machine. From there, drivers will go through an obstacle course where they are scored based on how fast they complete it and how well they avoid obstacles.

"Those three components are weighted, to come up with their final score for who will be the grand champion, reserve grand champion and down through the line in each of those age divisions, and in each of those disciplines," Scholer said. "The top three in each discipline, in each age bracket, go to the area contest, and then from there, the top three out of the area contest can qualify to go to the state contest."

William Blake Kessinger competed in the junior division riding on the zero-turn tractor. Kessinger started participating because a family friend participated, and he became a good competitor. He was the reserve champion for the competition the previous year, and while he was aiming to do the same this time, Kessinger felt he could have done better.

"It's fun to get to work on it. I mow a lot, so it's just fun to do," Kessinger said. My friend was doing it and I was like, I can do it."

Competing in the senior division on the lawn and garden tractor was Trey Matthew Hieatt, who has been driving in the tractor competition throughout all 10 of his years in 4-H. He got involved because his brother used to compete. Hieatt has won the competition in previous years.

"Practice makes perfect," Hieatt said. "I did good. I had a couple of mistakes. But I feel like I did good."

James Caan, whose remarkable performances in The Godfather, Elf and Misery made him a screen icon, has had his cause of death revealed by the Los Angeles County Coroner. The 82-year-old Caan died earlier this month of a heart attack and coronary artery disease, according to the county report. His family announced his death earlier […]

"And I am not backing down. I'm not gonna apologize, I'm not gonna cower, I'm not gonna run from you," Hawley said during a TPUSA speech.

The GOP, certainly in the Grand Canyon State, is not moving on from the former president. At least not yet.

Donald Trump was jeered by his MAGA supporters at an Arizona rally while speaking about his endorsement of GOP Congressional candidate Eli Crane.

Crucially, the security official's testimony appears to confirm part of what Cassidy Hutchinson previously testified.

See, when you're a legend...View Entire Post ›

A West Virginia man charged last week with brutally beating his sister, who awoke from a two-year coma and named him as her assailant, has died, according to officials.

Ashely Graham chills out by the pool in chic white slides on Instagram.

While the USSS is comprised of approximately 3,200 agents total, DHS requested communication from just two dozen agents.

Dutch police said that an investigation was underway after a topless woman was filmed repeatedly trying to mount a dolphin.

A former HR employee revealed the question he recommends asking at the end of every job interview.

Halsey took a mini vacation and shared a swimsuit snap of themself wearing a floral triangle bikini, showing off strong abs and glowing skin in the summer sun.

Danforth said the phone call raised questions about Hawley’s involvement in the effort to overturn the presidential election.

Hawley tweeted a link to his campaign website, which is selling a white coffee mug with an illustration of a photograph of Hawley holding his fist up to protesters who later stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Many social media sleuths believe the former president has been forging his wife's signature for years

Critics just aren't buying her claim that she was too busy taking White House inventory to notice her husband's supporters were storming the Capitol.

"We could wind up with a Phoenix of the future that's cooler than the one we have today, even as global warming continues."

Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily BeastSo, the texts and emails are lost. Those same texts and emails the Secret Service first said didn’t exist. Now they say they did exist, kind of, but don’t any longer.Except, news flash, they do.When they eventually show up, which they will, the questions being asked today should be answered. Such as, why is it that the texts and emails dated Jan. 5 and 6 went missing? As any experienced investigative journalist knows, there is no such thing as co

The House Republican Conference publicly attacked Sarah Matthews, former deputy press secretary in the Trump White House, for testifying before the Jan. 6 Committee – despite the fact that she is currently working as a communications director for the Republican staff on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. “Just another liar and pawn…

In the top of the first inning, the umpires spoke to Gabe Kapler and asked Antoan Richardson to make sure he was standing in the first base coach's box.