POCATELLO, Idaho — Students involved in Idaho FFA aim to raise $50,000 by raffling a 1975 Massey-Ferguson 275 tractor.

The tractor, which Freeman displayed outside of Idaho State University’s Holt Arena during the recent 2016 Ag Expo, is fitted with a farm-hand loader on the front and a rear blade. Raffle tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from any Idaho FFA member, or online at idffafoundation.org.

Canyon County farmer Sid Freeman is the founder of the Idaho FFA Foundation’s annual tractor raffle. Freeman said 60 percent of the raffle revenue goes toward scholarships for FFA members. The remainder of the funding supports Idaho FFA Foundation programs, such as the state convention in April, a leadership program for underclassmen in February and career-development competitions hosted in June in Moscow, Idaho.

Freeman said the drawing will take place during the state conference, and he offered to deliver the grand prize to any winner residing within a reasonable proximity to his farm.

Freeman said FFA students hope to break their current record of selling 3,750 tickets.

“The previous tractors have all been antique tractors,” Freeman said. “The agricultural education advisers said if we had a little newer model type of tractor, maybe we could sell more tickets and we could reach that goal this year.”

Freeman said his organization purchased the tractor for $5,000 from an owner in Marsing, Idaho. The owner gave FFA a good deal and will be allowed to write off on taxes the difference between the sale price and the tractor’s book value of about $6,500. Freeman said the tractor has new tires, and Massey-Ferguson agreed to be a sponsor, providing replacement parts and mechanical work.