Paul is Orne plowing champion, at only 17 years old

“He saw me doing it and I said to him, 'go get started'.” Between the elder Thomas Bourban and Paul Gautieroriginally from Grais (Orne), it's a family affair. His “big half-brother” taught him a lot of things about plowing. Paul loves it, and he is talented: he was crowned champion of Orne and will therefore participate in the Normandy championship, which takes place at the end of the summer.

Competition, a virus that is transmitted

Paul, just 17 ansis a student in the 1st STAV class (agronomy and life sciences and technologies) at the Robillard high school in Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives. His half-brother Thomas is an employee on a farm.

Paul first took part in the competition in the canton of Briouze, organized by the Young Farmers. “It’s a kind of demonstration to show the tillagereserved for under 35s,” explains Thomas.

It took place in Grais, on the field of a i couldto whom Paul often goes.

I had already won the cantonal competition last year, before finishing 5th in the departmental competition.

The high school student tried his luck again in the departmental competition this year, with success, since he achieved the double. It took place near Mortagne-au-Perche.

A special tractor for competitions

Ses success are the pride of Thomas, who, in the past, finished 2nd in the departmental competition to qualify at the regional level. “Afterwards, I stalled,” he smiles.

For Paul to take over, Thomas gave him the competition machine, a trisoc plow [avec trois lames, N.D.L.R.].

Initially, it was a demonstration designed for farmers to take the plow they have in their field, with the equipment they have. Ours, we have improved it and it is only used for that.

It is an event that they enjoy and in which they participate willingly. They appreciate the side familial: “We tried and we improve the equipment as we go along. Basically, it is a field plow. It could plow without problem, but we don’t want to break it,” emphasizes Thomas.

A farming family

Between two editions, Paul improved in terms of conduct that’s what made the difference: “The hardware hasn’t changed much. »

The test consists of respecting a plan plowing on a plot. There are several criteria, such as general appearance, depth, regularity, etc.

Agriculture is a family passion. The grandfather had a exploitation agricultural. “We are surrounded by farmers. We are immersed in it, it’s a passion,” explains Paul.

And since he was 8 years old, he has loved going to farmfrom neighbor Charles Martin, located “one kilometer as the crow flies”. It was there that he learned to drive. “I go there whenever I'm on vacation or whenever they need me now. »

The next step for him is the regional competition, which should take place in september.

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