Annual fundraiser brings tractors to fairgrounds

MARENGO — For nearly 20 years, the sounds of tractors pulling weight have resounded at the Iowa County Fairgrounds during an annual fundraiser for the fair.

Once a year. The last Saturday in August.

“Last year we were able to run two classes, and then we got rained out,” said George Scott, fair board member.

Proceeds from the event have paid for new lighting and improvements to the pulling track.

“And then we also started working on some of our bleachers,” Scott said. “They’re older, and some of them are getting into pretty bad shape.”

An official event of the East Central Iowa Tractor Pulling Association, the tractor pulls costs more to put on every year, so profits are often pretty slim, limiting the projects the board can tackle.

“But we try to do as much as we can,” said Scott.

“We hope to have enough leftover so we can paint some bleachers and add some more new lighting.” The track is lit up, but the fair board wants to add lighting to the pit area.

The pull will involve six classes of tractors. “We hope to have eight to six tractors in each class,” said Scott. “We have one class of pickups as well.”

“We usually try to have 60-65 hooks,” said Scott. “You never know until the night of how many will show up.” East Central Iowa Tractor Pullers handles the registration.

“They probably have 25-30 tractor pulls a year throughout eastern Iowa, Central Iowa,” said Scott. “They’re on a point system.”

The sanctioned pulls attract participants from several Midwest states. “There’ll be some people from Wisconsin, possibly from Missouri and Western Illinois,” said Scott.

And those are just the people pulling. The sport has enthusiastic spectators as well. “We usually have a good crowd,” said Scott.

Admission is $20 for anyone age 15 or older, $10 for children 7-14 and free to children 6 and younger. A pit pass is $25 for anyone 15 or older and $15 for those 7-14.

Coolers are allowed. Concessions will be offered on the grounds.

Iowa County Fairgrounds is located at 800 E. Marion in Marengo.