A Cumberland County father is organizing a memorial tractor pull to raise funds for local Future Farmers of America students in honor of his late son.
Scott Winningham passed away in September, 2020 after a ATV accident. His father Gary said the memorial fund provides financial assistance for official dress clothes, camp tuition and field trips for students who cannot afford the costs.
“Helping you know maybe some underprivileged kids out maybe they’ll look back and think you know all of this was put in place you know,” Winningham said. “Because of one person and and if that one person right there changes changes one more person’s you know direction in life, I think that would be what he would like to see.”
Winningham said he hopes Scott’s passing will sprout new opportunities for FFA, a program Scott was deeply passionate about.
“You know, any kid that is willing to do something a program like the FFA I am more than willing to always help,” Winningham said. “(I) always want to help somebody that wants to better themselves and that is a good group to be able to do that with. And if I can do something, you know, in Scott’s name to where we keep his memory alive, you know, that’s what I’m all about.”
Winningham said his son was a dedicated worker on his grandfather’s dairy farm and remained active in the agricultural community until his death at age 20. Winningham said the upcoming event features a tractor pull and truck display designed to generate revenue for local schools and agricultural programs.
“It just… I don’t know… it turned our lives around,” Winningham said. “I think differently about every aspect of life now myself. You know, when you see someone so young pass away without getting to fulfill everything they should have been able to do you just it just changes your outlook and I would just like to open up more opportunities for for other young folks that. And I hope no other parent ever has to deal with what we dealt with over the years. But I would just like to open up opportunities for other for other kids to have a good successful life once they reach their adulthood.”
Winningham said the planning process for the tractor pull requires four to five months of organization and involves 18 to 24-hour workdays to prepare the equipment and venue. Winningham said local sponsors cover the bulk of the event expenses so that the money collected at the gate can be given directly to the students.
Winningham said Scott was known throughout the community as a kind-hearted young man who never refused a request for a favor. Winningham said the memorial fund recently raised enough money to send local students on a field trip to Washington D.C.
“I would just like to invite everyone that could that hears this and anyone that does not hear it if everybody would spread the word you know we we would just like to pack these bleachers out here the more people we get in the stands is the more money that I get to hand back to them kids,” Winningham said.
Winningham said he will have his own truck on display at the event and plans to remain on-site to answer questions from the public about the vehicles and the memorial fund.