Tractors pull in crowds

AMBOY – As the shadows lengthened, the tang of exhaust fumes blended with the earthy odor of grass and the occasional whiff of fried food. The engines popped and roared.

Tractors, garden-size to big daddy John Deeres, and pickup trucks competed Thursday at the Lee County Fairgrounds.

The garden tractors were there for the Lee County 4-H fair's sixth annual tractor pull, sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Garden Tractor Pullers Association, while the Lee County Fair Association sponsored the tractor/truck pull.

The goal was to see who could move a large sled the farthest; 56 garden tractors, 41 farm tractors and 18 pickup trucks signed up.

"It's pretty rough," said Brad Shippert, 25, of Dixon, who pulled the sled 227.3 feet with his 1934 Farmall M tractor.

Competitors came from as far away as Wisconsin.

Leslie Sullivan, 10, of Dewitt, Iowa, took first place in her class, pulling 1,000 pounds 198.48 feet.

Thursday wasn't her first time around at a tractor pull: "I started when I was 4."

Another tractor/truck pull will be held tonight at 6:30.

Some of Lee County 4-H Fair and Junior Show attractions:

Today

n An all-day antique tractor show.

n Pancake breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. at the patio.

n Swine judging at 9 a.m. at the show barn.

n Dairy judging at 1 p.m. at the show barn.

n Poultry Judging at 2 p.m. at the poultry barn.

n The Carnival, which opens at 4 p.m.

n Pork chop sandwiches from 5 to 7 p.m. at the patio.

n Awards ceremony and king and queen crowning at 5:30 p.m. at the auditorium.

n Tractor/truck pull at 6:30 p.m. at the track.

n Local celebrity showmanship contest at 7:30 p.m. at the show barn.

n Barn dance at 8 p.m. at the show barn.

Saturday

n An all-day antique tractor show.

n Pancake breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. at the patio.

n Horse Performance & Halter Judging at 8 a.m. in the arena.

n The Carnival, which opens at 11 a.m.

n Miller’s Petting Zoo from noon to 7 p.m.

n Story Hour at 2 p.m. at the show tent.