Surplus tractor gets new life at Palmer High School

PALMER -- The Mat-Su Borough School District agriculture science program recently acquired a surplus tractor from the state of Alaska with help from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302.

The tractor, a Case-International Model 1309, was purchased under a proprietary bidding program that makes surplus equipment available to nonprofit and government agencies before it goes to auction. The 81-horsepower tractor has about 300 hours on it and has a new home at the Palmer High School (PHS) agriculture and plant science program.

Curtis Hall and Jerry Andrews of IUOE Local 302 found the tractor and alerted the district's vocational and technical training administrators. The district purchased the tractor for $2,800, about a quarter the price of a similar new model.

"They're great partners," school-to-work coordinator Gus Montemayor said of Local 302. "They're just really out for the young people."

Workers at the Local 302 apprentice program gave the tractor a once-over and NAPA Auto Parts in Palmer donated paint and supplies for a paint job. Paul Jackson of NAPA arranged for the NAPA donation and Earl Lackey of Yukon Equipment in Anchorage helped the effort with his Case-International expertise. Andrews said the cooperative effort was well worth it.

"Now this tractor will have another life here with the agriculture program," Andrews said.

The PHS chapter of Future Farmers of America is open to students from other schools in the district. IUOE Local 302 offers apprenticeship opportunities each year to district students who want to further their technical education. Last year, Local 302 gave four school-to-apprenticeship opportunities to 2001 Mat-Su graduates. To date the union has accepted 18 Mat-Su graduates into apprenticeship through the school-to-apprenticeship program.

"By supporting the high schools, we get better young people coming to our trades," Andrews said.