Don’t retire your tractor just because it is at retirement age. (And this is just the opening event to an August-full of occurrences gassing up Ellsworth).
If it is a 1957 model or older, you can run it at the antique part of the tractor pull at The GasLite bar and grill in Ellsworth.
There is also, as a part of the show, a farm stock pull at Saturday’s event, making for a total of 15 categories that carry on. Music later is the third portion this variety show. Hard to say which pumps the most volume.
This is not NASCAR, but there are some specific and interesting rules, well over a dozen of them, many in common to both classes that pull. So drivers need to pay attention to details.
There is a 4-5 mph speed limit enforced, so don’t get ahead of yourself too fast while pulling.
A 200-pound grace period exists, and you are not allowed to “lose weight,” to boot.
No reckless driving is allowed, including “digging holes.”
The tractor will be stopped if the wheel rises much over a foot, or in the other class 18 inches, above ground.
So get that great big ol’ tractor out of its great big ol’ machine shed, if you think its up to snuff.
And then stay for the band Hitchville starting at 7 p.m. Their look fits the theme of the day and night, even if their main guy does not look out-and-out groomed for country. Still rugged enough to rock.