The Platte County Tractor & Truck Pull is set for 6:30 p.m., Saturday, July 2 at the Platte County Fairgrounds in Tracy.
Tractor and truck pulls have an interesting history and Missouri was the site of one of the first events in 1929 where motorized vehicles were used in Vaughansville, Mo.
The pulls began in the 1860s when farmers would talk to each other about the strength of their horses and the large loads their horses could tow.
To find the strongest horses they began to challenge each other to contests. Initially a barn door was used to test the horses’ strength. It was laid flat on the ground and hitched to the horse. People, one by one would jump on the door until the horse was unable to drag the door farther.
When motorized vehicles were introduced, farmers started hitching weighted metal sleds to their field tractors. They then took off on a track to find out who could pull loads the greatest distance.
The sport became popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Tractor and truck pulls are now competitive sporting events.
Platte County Tractor & Truck Pull classes include: 5500 Non-Turbo Tractors, 6500 Non-Turbo Tractors, 8500 Pro Farm Tractors, 9000 Pro Field P Pump Tractors, 6200 Pro Street Pickups, 10500 Super Field Tractors, 8500 Pro Field A Pump Tractors, 6000 Hot Rod, and 6500 Open.
Northwest Missouri Tractor Pullers Association rules apply to all sanctioned classes. One hook per class; any judge’s decision is final; can’t compete in both sanctioned and non-sanctioned classes; hook order for each class drawn as usual; must have at least a one-day membership to NWMTPA; and hook fee is $10 per hook.