2019 Logan County Fair

Page 204 2019 Logan County Fair LINCOLN DAILY NEWS July 28-August 4, 2019 T he roar and the power of loud engines could be heard by the crowd in the grandstands and throughout much of the fairgrounds Thursday during Logan County Fair’s Tractor Pull Contests. The tractor pulls have been a popular event for the past 53 years, bringing in several local competitors as well as many from around the state and nearby Midwest states. Logan County Fair’s Tractor Pull includes seven different weight classes ranging from as garden tractors as small as 1,050 pounds to pro-stocks as large as 9,500 pounds. This highly competitive event awards a total of $13,800 in cash prizes with the “pullers” using various sizes of modified farm tractors and trucks to pull sleds loaded down with weights. Though a “full pull” is 320 feet, going that distance becomes difficult the further the sled is pulled due to the weights being added to the front of the sled causing greater resistance. The dirt track also makes it challenging, so it was leveled out between each pull. Tractor Pull Department Superintendent Darrell Ebbersten said that previously the average pull was between 220 and 300 feet. This year, several contestants exceeded the 320-foot mark. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2019 Tractor Pulls end on an exciting note with a 375 foot pull First up in the afternoon events were the garden tractors, which are similar in size to a riding mower but have enough horsepower to pull a sled with weights between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds. This class had almost a dozen contestants and Darren Binkley had the furthest pull in this class at 310 feet and 11 inches. Announcer Art Downs said many of these tractors have been “beautifully restored” and “most stick to Cub Cadets chassis” along with other innovations. Most contestants also have names like “Moneymaker” and “Serious Business” for their tractors. The next weight class was for 5,500-pound tractors like many farmers use. This group includes two classes. One is made up of antique tractors manufactured before 1939 and the other of classic tractors made between 1940 and 1953. Using bigger sleds, these tractors can often pull up to 30,000 pounds. Downs said the tractors are more comfortable than they used to be, plus bigger and better with increased horsepower. The tractors ranged from John Deere to Farmall to Oliver. CONTINUE Photo by Derek Hurley