By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

LEBANON, Ind. — Pedals pulls are often popular with children and parents alike. The pull hosted by the National Kiddie Tractor Pullers Assoc.(NKTPA) during the Farm World Expo on Wednesday, Aug. 5 was no different.

Over the course of three pulls, the Expo’s pedal pull had 59 children between the ages of 3-10 compete. There were three pulls on the day, each pull divided into four age groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10.

Ron Dietrich of Greenville, Ohio brought the NKTPA tractors and sled to the Expo, which was Aug. 4-6 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Ind.

The 3-4 year olds pedaled a miniature Caterpillar tractor. A John Deere pedal tractor that was built in 1965 was used for the 5-6 year olds. A custom-built International was used for the 7-10 year olds to pedal.

The 1/10-scale pedal tractors pulled a similar scale weight transfer sled on a 30-foot concrete lane. As the youngsters pedal, the sled’s weight moves forward, transferring the weight from the wheels to the pan, which makes it harder to pull. Weight is loaded into the box until there is a winner in each class.

Winners for each pull, including age, hometown and pull length, were:

10 a.m. Pedal Pull
3-4 Division – 140 pounds
1. Case Kapacz, 4, Danville, Ill., 23 feet, 10 inches
2. Megan Weber, 4, Greensburg, Ind., 21-1
3. Evan Trent, 4, Thorntown, Ind., 21-0
5-6 Division – 200 pounds
1. Kody Slough, 6, Center Point, Ind., Full pull
2. Kaley Hawkins, 6, Thorntown, Ind., 29-7
3. Mason Click, 6, Burlington, Ind., 24-4
7-8 Division – 300 pounds
1. Trace Thomas, 8, Greencastle, Ind., Full pull
2. Kyle Thomas, 8, Colfax, Ind., 26-8.5
3. Cauy Thomas, Greencastle, Ind., 25-2
9-10 Division – 300 pounds
1. Cowen Moulder, 9, Tipton, Ind., 28-7
2. Ryan Skellett, 10, Stewart, Ohio, 27-10
3. Hunter Hall, 10, Brookston, Ind., 25-7
1 p.m. Pedal Pull
3-4 Division – 200 pounds
1. Jacob Knarr, 4, Waldren, Ind., 22-3.5
2. Jacob Potts, 3, Plainfield, Ind., 19-0
3. Case Kopacz, 4, Danville, Ill., 21-1*
*140 pounds
5-6 Division – 200 pounds
1. Michael Potts, 6, Plainfield, Ind., Full pull
2. Dawson Leshu, 5, Rossville, Ind., 27-7
3. Bryce Hasty, 5, Fortville, Ind., 22-5
7-8 Division – 300 pounds
1. Kyle Thomas, 8, Colfax, Ind., 28-7
2. Cauy Thomas, 8, Greencastle, Ind., 26-0
3. Sam Tatman, 7, Mulberry, Ind., 26-9*
*250 pounds
9-10 Division – 300 pounds
1. Trace Thomas, 9, Greencastle, Ind., 28-3
2. Anna Koon, 9, Carmel, Ind., 20-0
3. Richie Bol, 10, Brookston, Ind., 19-1
4 p.m. Pedal Pull
3-4 Division – 140 pounds
1. Brayton Hofer, 3, Brookville, Ind., 27-9.5
2. Case Kopacz, 4, Danville, Ill., 25-4
3. Joshua Knight, Lebanon, Ind., 22-9*
*100 pounds
5-6 Division – 200 pounds
1. Dakota Fowler, 5, Springport, Ind., 26-0
2. Nathan Koon, 6, Carmel, Ind., 21-9
3. Ashlyn Killion, 6, Clay City, Ind., 20-4
7-8 Division – 250 pounds
1. Kyle Thomas, 8, Colfax, Ind., Full pull
2. Jadon Wright, 7, Brownsburg, Ind., 29-1
3. Kenny Puckett, 7, Advance, Ind., 26-9
9-10 Division – 300 pounds
1. Ryan Skellett, 10, Stewart, Ohio, Full pull
2. Megeon Turner, 9, Advance, Ind., 21-0

The top three winners in each class – up to age 8 - is invited to pull at the Grand National Tractor Pull in January in conjunction with Power Show Ohio.

For more on the NKTPA, contact Ron and Sue Dietrich at rdietrich@woh.rr.com or call 937-548-4780.