Ag Teacher Goes Where Other Teachers May Fear To Tread (Or Drive!)

Monterey, VA – Steve Heavner, Highland HS Agricultural teacher and FFA Advisor, will be continuing the tradition of participating in the R&R Productions demolition derby on Thursday night.

Heavner says he’s been teaching at Highland for about 7 years. Participating in the demolition derby at the Highland County Fair started his second year.

“This is one of the highlights of the chapter” says Heavner. “The students really love this hands on work of working on a car, getting it ready for the fair. We’ve been good and we’ve been bad – we’ve never won the Derby, but we’ve had fun trying to.”

The students and volunteers are actively involved in the preparation process of the demolition car.

“Every year, things are different” says Heavner “every senior class is responsible for getting the car and they’re responsible for painting it, fixing it up and getting it ready to go.”

Donald Hedrick assists the team as lead mechanic.

“It’s a chapter thing, it’s not about me” says Heavner. “It’s their chapter and the more they participate, the better they feel about themselves and the chapter itself.”

The demolition derby is not for the faint at heart. Heavner describes his past experiences in the derby.

“You get beat around a good bit, but the funny thing is I’ve never really been sore after the Derby” he says. “I have taken a couple of pretty hard hits, but really it’s not that bad. They’re very good about keeping people from hitting you in the door; as a rule there’s really not a lot to it.”

The FFA Derby car is always a crowd pleaser.

“You do hear the fans in the stands yelling and carrying on and I’m assuming it’s probably the students I’ve had and some of the students now that really raise cain” says Heavner. “Their parents really get excited about it. It shows that the participation is there and that people back you and support you.”

Steve Heavner will be in action in the Demolition Derby on Thursday night at 7:30pm.