Bringing a roar to Freedom Festival

MOUNT MORRIS - All was quiet as souped-up garden tractors of all sizes and colors sat idle along Main Street. Suddenly a roar filled the crowded street and 9-year-old Charlie Peterson steadily made his way to the end of the course on a bright red garden tractor named "Brainfreeze," pulling a large, weighted sled.

The young driver was one of many members of Rock County Pullers, based out of Rock County, Wisconsin, to join the Mount Morris Let Freedom Ring Festival for the third year Saturday.

"Basically it's like the big farm tractor pulls, but on a smaller scale," said Julie Peterson, treasurer of the non-profit organization.

The garden tractors or lawn mowers, which are weighted themselves, are connected to a heavy sled whose weight shifts with distance, making it harder and harder to pull. There is a weight limit for each of the 16 different classes, ranging from 900 to 1,200 pounds. The more weight on the mower means a better pull, member Kelly Lobotzke said.

"With this garden tractor pull, the goal is to go the most distance, not be the fastest. To obtain this, it depends how the mower is weighted, what gear it's in and getting that all in balance," Peterson said.

Rock County Pullers has about 80 members ranging in age from 6 to 83 from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Each member has their own tractor which they transport to pulls, where 40 to 80 mowers usually compete. Members accumulate points for how well they place in each race. At the end of the year there are awards for the top scorers.

"It's kind a like NASCAR. We work our way through the season to see what we can accomplish," club secretary Steve Conway said.

Anyone can bring their own lawn mower and race in the hometown class. These non-members race for money, not points.

Member Russ Bates of Wisconsin started with the Rock County Pullers because of his experience with big tractor pulls.

"I love the sport of pulling," Bates said, noting that garden tractor pulling is less expensive.

Most of the crowd on hand wanted to be present for all local festival events.

"We like to be out here and watch everything on the Fourth," said Brenda Higley, of Mount Morris. She also came to the event last year.

"This is my hometown, it's a beautiful day, and I know that everyone worked really hard to get this together," said Anne Knodle, of Mount Morris.