Power and smoke

Published 7:01 am Sunday, August 23, 2015

On Sept. 5 and 6, a weekend of tractor pulls will be hosted in Charles City, Iowa, for the annual Labor Day Tractor pull.

Cedar Valley Engine Club member Larry Bissen of Stacyville has organized this event for several years.

“I was a farm kid and I grew up on tractors. Power and smoke, it all fits together,” Bissen said in a press release.

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The first tractor pull will be held on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.

Tractor pulling is a competitive sport where stock and modified farm tractors drag a metal skid along a course.  There is a box filled with weight on the back of the skid that is winched forward as the tractor pulls. As the box moves forward the weight moves to the front of the skid and the tractor loses forward momentum as it reaches its limit. The distance the tractor travels from start to finish is measured to determine the winner.

The little pullers compete on Sept. 6. There are several sizes of pedal tractors for the various classes children can compete in. The Kiddie Pull will be located between the school and the food building. Participants should arrive before 1:30 p.m. to register.

The events are free and open to the public. The tractor pull will take place about seven miles west of Charles City on Highway 14, at 2097 210th Street, Rockford, Iowa.