BY LOU ANN GOOD
HARRISBURG Screams
filled the Farm Show arena on
Sunday.
“Push!
Pedal!
Go, Go. Go!”
Fans and parents screamed and
cheered as children from ages
three to eight took their turn at the
wheel.
It was the first state competition
in the children’s tractor pull divi
sion. Many of the contestants had
previous experience at their county
fair, but for some, it was the first
time ever.
The pedal tractor race involves
more than pedalling a tractor as
fast as possible. A sled with
weights attached is hooked to the
tractor. The heavy weight slows
contestants considerably. In fact,
despite huffing and puffing, many
are able only to move a few feet.
There were three groups each
with 15 children.
3 to 4 year-olds
The three to four-year-olds
pulled 15 pounds of weight; the 5
to 6-year-olds pulled 65 pounds;
and the seven to eight-year-olds
pulled 100 pounds.
The contestants huffed and
puffed and strained to pull the
weighted sled over the finish line.
“My legs are sore,” said one, “but I
can still walk.”
In the three to four-year-old
division, Lee Kuzenchak from
Clymer in Indiana County won. He
is the son of Jim and Patti
Kuzenchak.
Jessica Bennetch pulled in sec
ond. It was the first time in com
petition for the daughter of James
and Dorothy of Lebanon.
Four-year-old Andrew Herr is
following in his brother’s foot
steps. “My brother won before, but
I never did,” Andrew said. The
champion of the five-to-six-year-old division.
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third place winner is the son ot
Allan and Amelia Herr of
Millersville.
5 to 6 year-olds
Six-year-old Jaclyn Troutman,
Richland, outpulled her competi
tors in the five to six-year-old divi
sion. She is the daughter of Nelson
and Mary Troutman. If her name
sounds familiar, it’s probably
because she was the former LiT
Miss Berks County and she was
featured in “Kid’s Komer” this
past summer.
She said, “It was hard. I’m going
to have sore legs.”
Her third cousin came in third.
He is Ryan Miller, 6, son of Calvin
and Susan Miller, Fredericksburg.
It was the first time for him and he
said, “I like it.”
He received a tractor for a prize.
His only complaint was; “It should
have been a green tractor.”
7 to 8 year-olds
The winners in the seven to
eight-year-old division had to pull
150 pounds in the playoffs.
A first-timer, Corey McCauley
who is eight placed first He said,
“It was fun. I might do it again if I
can still walk.”
He lives with his parents, Mike
and Brenda McCauley in Ham
burg, Berks County.
A veteran winner, Frankie Halb
leich of Mount Joy plat ed second.
He said, “I won two trophies and
whole bunch of tractors before
this.”
The seven-year-old is the son of
Cindy and Fred Halbleich.
Pulling in third was Brian Dom
bach of Willow Street. The eight
year-old said it was his first time in
competition and the relay was
tougher than he thought it would
be.-
He thought he probably won
because, “I lift weights at my cou
sin’s house.”
doing anything special over the
holidays?
Send your letters to “Kid’s Kor
ner” 1 East Main Street; P.O. Box
609, Ephrata, PA 17522.
Push That Pedal!
no easy
To claim their prizes, these three champions of the seven
to eight-year-old division needed to pull 150 pounds in the
play offs. From left: Frank! Halblelch, Corey MacCauley and
Brian Dombach.
Tractor trophies were given to the three top winners In
each of the three groups. Three to four-year-old winners
included Lee Kuzenchak, Jessica Bennetch and Andrew
idling a hundi
■JM
A
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