Tractor pulls offer 20 horsepower to 1,700 horsepower excitement

PENFIELD, Ill. — Whether it’s 20 horsepower to 150 horsepower to 1,700 horsepower, the tractor pull schedule at the 2023 Historic Farm Days offers something for every tractor enthusiast.

“We will have sanctioned tractor pulls and then we’ll be pulling plow tractors, the antique show tractors,” said Andy Buhr.

Buhr, along with Derek Harms, coordinates the tractor pulls for Historic Farm Days. This year, the antique tractor pull classes start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 13.

The Friday night pull is sanctioned by the Illinois Tractor Pullers Association and pulling starts at 5 p.m.

There will be nine pulling classes on Friday night and eight classes on Saturday, with two tracks and two sleds running both nights. The Saturday night pull is sanctioned by Illiana Pullers Association and starts at 5 p.m.

From wherever fans want to watch, there is plenty of seating available.

“We have seating under roof, we have other bleachers available, plus there is plenty of room for trailers on the other side and we have room for golf carts to park,” Buhr said.

Buhr said tractor pullers can register the day of the pull.

Technology has changed the face of tractor pulling.

“Tractor pulling has gone through a unique change over the years. It started off with only a handful of classes. Since then, the classes have been refined by turbo size and cubic inch, where, years and years ago, it was by weight,” Buhr said.

“There are a lot more classes available for people to pull in today because of the technology we have today, with turbo chargers and camshafts. The technology has changed so much that a tractor that was competitive 40 years ago wouldn’t be competitive even in a beginner-level class now.”

Planning for the pulls starts early, Buhr said.

“We start working on it in December. We get the insurance lined up, that is one of the biggest things we have to deal with today, getting insurance for the event and making sure everybody is taken care of,” Buhr said.

“Then we get the sleds booked. That has to happen early, because there are only a handful of operating sleds, it’s such a specialized piece of equipment. The good thing is that since we’ve done this for so long, we’ve got a good idea of what has to happen and when.”

Buhr said he’s been coordinating tractor pulls for around 15 years. He’s no stranger to the popular motorsport — he owns and operates “Frankenstock,” a superstock Minneapolis Moline G-1000.

Buhr, who follows the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association circuit, said he won’t be pulling at Historic Farm Days.