 Over the past few years, the tractor pulls have taken up two full
nights in front of the grandstand, but this year that will change.
On Thursday the pull with full-sized tractors and trucks is slated
for the full evening, starting at 6:30, and on Friday evening the
garden tractors will pull starting at 5:30, with the annual talent
contest to follow.
For this year, the talent contest will be in front of the
grandstand, in a change from the last few years, when it has been an
afternoon event on the Lincoln Stage.
Darrell Ebbersten has been the chair of the tractor pull event
more years than he cares to remember. He said recently that the
pulls are great entertainment for the family, and one of the nice
things for the competitors is that it is generally a family event
for them also.
Ebbersten said they have reduced the number of pulling classes
this year to fit the program into one night, but there is still
going to be a lot of excitement at the Thursday night event.
The first class to pull will be the antique tractors, followed by
the super stock, two-wheel drive and classic tractors. Ebbersten
noted that there are a few local pullers he hopes to see return this
year and compete in the classic and super stock pulls.
The highlight of the night, though, may not be a "tractor" at
all, but rather a truck tractor. Ebbersten said the big rigs look a
lot like what one would see out on the interstate hauling freight,
but in reality they are far different.
"These are high-performance vehicles, built just for pulling.
They are so powerful, you'll see many of them head down the track
with their front wheels off the ground," Ebbersten said.
Ebbersten said the tractor pulls have always been crowd-pleasers
that bring a lot of people to the grandstand to watch, and he
believes this year will be no different.
"Even though we have eliminated a few classes, we've got a really
good show that we hope everyone will come out and enjoy," he said.
On Friday evening, there will still be the garden tractor pull.
It will begin in front of the grandstand at 5:30 p.m. Ebbersten said
the majority of the participants in this group will be from all over
the state.
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 Even though the tractor pull event won't fully carry over into
Friday, the main stage in front of the grandstand is still going to
be a great place for some local entertainment.
The evening will kick off at 5:30 with the garden tractor pulls,
then move on to the annual talent show at 7:30. Immediately
following the talent show, a local band of teens from Mount Pulaski;
Haircut Actual, will take the main stage to entertain the audience.
For the talent show there will be two classes of competitors. The
junior class will be for those under the age of 14 on Oct. 1. The
senior class will consist of competitors age 14 and over, but under
age 22, as of Oct. 1.
Judging for the contest is based on a point system, with 50
points being the highest possible score. Participants can earn 1-5
points for audience appeal, 1-15 points on stage presence and 1-25
points for overall ability.
Prizes will be awarded for first- through fifth-place finishers
in both classes, with the first-place winners becoming eligible to
go on to a state competition in January.
Darlene Begolka is the chairman of the talent show committee. She
said recently that she would love to see a number of participants
this year and would hope to be able to put on a one-hour show in
front of the grandstand.
Making their county fair debut this year, Haircut Actual is a
diverse group of young musicians primarily from Mount Pulaski. The
group ranges in age from 14 to 18 and got their start in 2012 with
the help of their high school band director, David Helm.
Another change this year will be on Sunday afternoon. The Logan
County Railsplitting Association will have its National
Railsplitting Contest on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in front of the
grandstand.
[By NILA SMITH]
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