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Students in the Albert Lea High School parking lot on Friday were greeted by a row of tractors as participating students took part in “Drive Your Tractor to School Day.”

The occasion corresponds with Future Farmers of America Week. According to Albert Lea FFA adviser and ag teacher Krystal Viktora, this led to the event being on a chillier day than anticipated.

Typically, she said, “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” is held in May when the weather is warmer.

“We had to move our FFA Week this year, and it just happened to be the nicest day in March we could’ve had,” Viktora said, explaining she was pleasantly surprised with the weather Friday morning.

In total there were about 14 students who participated in the event, some “carpooling” together on one tractor.

Freshman Jake Dahl has been in FFA for three years and was excited to be able to participate in “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” this year.

“I love driving my tractor to school,” he said.

Conner Wolff, another freshman who has participated in FFA for two years, agreed.

Viktora said she was happy with the turnout of students who participated, despite the reduced number of students who have access to a tractor.

“As most people know, our farm kid population is dwindling, so the amount of kids that actually have tractors is pretty low,” she said.

It was likely a very fun, and distinctly Midwestern sight to see the tractors driving into town and turning into the high school parking lot.

“Some may have drove them 25 miles,” said Viktora. “Some trailered them in and drove them three miles.”