Tractor pull provides unique showcase

• Tractor parade

Area folks paraded through Pioneer Village on Saturday as part of the Prairie Reapers 24th annual Power Reunion and Pioneer Village Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration. Parade participants showed off a variety of antique tractors, including Minneapolis Molines, Massey-Fergusons and John Deeres.

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WORTHINGTON — Even after a mechanical problem delayed Saturday’s tractor pull for nearly an hour, a crowd of appreciative onlookers were on hand to watch the antique machines inch toward first place in their class.

The event was part of the Prairie Reapers 24th annual Power Reunion at Pioneer Village, one of several events in the weekend’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration.

“They usually come from quite a way,” said Fred DeJong, a past president of the Prairie Reapers and a member of the organization’s board. “It’s the Fourth of July long weekend, so they like to come from Iowa and all over.”

The midday sun shone hot on the metal machines as a welcome breeze also served to kick up dust in their wake. As each driver spun his tractor’s rear wheels in the dirt in hopes of gaining a few more feet, many spectators wore T-shirts that declared their love for their tractor — be it red, green or otherwise.

“(The pull) gives me something to do,” said Mike Majerus, a farmhand from Sibley, Iowa, who has competed in pulls for more than 10 years. Sometimes, he said, his 1949 B John Deere “sounds like a popcorn maker” because of the popping noise the engine makes.

The Milford Antique Tractor Pullers had trouble starting their ’68 Chevrolet Spartan, which delayed the competition and meant the parade was run through the track as a halftime entertainment of sorts before the pull resumed.

The reapers featured Massey Ferguson tractors and machinery at their display, but tractors shown in the pull and parade were of all makes: Allis-Chalmers, Minneapolis Moline, John Deere and Oliver, to name a few. Some of the equipment dating back to the early 1900s.

Here’s a look at the winners in each class:

3000 Stock: 1. Brian Soleta, Brewster; 2. Vern UitDeFlesch, Worthington. 3000 Open: 1. Ken Loerts, Sibley; 2. Brian Soleta. 3500 Stock: Del Anderson, Garvin; 2. Don UitDeFlesch, Fulda. 3500 Open: 1. Kevin Freking, Windom; 2. Ken Loerts. 4000 Stock: 1. Jerry Hanson; 2. Del Anderson. 4000 Open: 1. Dale Dirks; 2. Kevin Freking. 4500 Stock: 1. Jerry Hanson; 2. Del Anderson. 4500 Open: Adam Reinke, Ashton, Iowa; 2. Rich Polzine, Worthington. 5000 Stock: 1. Don Dieken; 2. Harlan Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa. 5000 Open: 1. Adam Reinke; 2. Rich Polzine. 5000 Exhibition: 1. Brian Gosch, Estherville, Iowa; 5500 Stock: 1. Don Dieken; 2. Vern UitDeFlesch. 5500 Open: 1. Ned DeBoer, Sibley, Iowa; 2. Dwayne Wienrank; 5500 Exhibition: 1. Larry Leckband, Ocheyedan, Iowa; 2. Dave Gosch, Estherville, Iowa. 6000 Stock: 1. Ron Winter, Granite Falls; 2. Harlan Klaassen. 6000 Open: 1. Dwayne Wienrank; 2. Matt Michels, St. Peter. 6500 Stock: 1. Don Dieken; 2. Harlan Klaassen. 6500 Open: 1. Harlan Klaassen; 2. Matt Michels. 7500 Stock: 1. Roger Brunk, Brewster; 2. Harlan Klaassen. 7500 Open: 1. Dwayne Wienrank; 2. Matt Michels. 8500 Stock: 1.Vern UitDeFlesch; 2. Roger Brunk. 8500 Farm Stock: 1. Roger Brunk; 2. Daniel Milbrath. 9500 Stock: 1. Vern UitDeFlesch; 2. Dean Tunstra, Lake Park, Iowa. 9500 Farm Stock: 1. Dean Tunstra; 2. Roger Brunk. 10,500 Farm Stock: 1. Roger Brunk. Steel Wheel Exhibition: 1. Brad Vinkemeier, Spencer, Iowa; 2. Brian Patterson, Norwood.

Tags: tractor pull, pioneer village, fourth of july, news, worthington, tractors