BlMJrtfciit* partnltf. Saturday, Oetobaf H’iHS *
KILE Kids Reveal
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
While the animals are compet
ing in the show ring at Keystone
International Livestock Exposi
tion (KILE) held in the Farm Show
Arena in Harrisburg, kids are com
peting in tractor pulls, agri-kid
Olympics, sack races, wheelbarrow
races, horseshoe pitch, hog calling,
and other events.
Several participants have prac
ticed for the competition just as
thoroughly as their parents have
prepared die show animals for this
annual event
“I’ve been practicing for a
year,” Ronnie Lee Ferguson after
he claimed first prize in the tractor
pull.
Last year, Ronnie, from Mercer
County, claimed a third place in
the same competition. He’s con
vinced that pulling his brother
around in a wagon in the bam is the
reason for his success.
, But some ofthe kids who won in
their division attributed their suc
cess to other reasons.
Christine Benehoff of Bessamer
said that she jumps on a trampoline
to develop muscle for the tractor
pull.
“Running is the secret,” said
Johnny Hochstetler of Ohio. He
lives on a horse farm in Ohio and
each year accompanies his mother
to KILE. She operates a Western
stand called “The Way West”
At home Johnny has his own
Johnny Hochstetler from Ohio sits in the driver’s seat
while Christine Bennehoff from Bessemer and Josh How
ard from Duncannon compare reasons for capturing wins in
the 11-12-vear-old division of the tractor Dull.
r
for Roxanne, an undefeated cow calf champion. Jackie is
the daughter of Daniel Abell and Sharon Preston of Warren
Center.
ids,
race horse. He enjoys riding, but
said he wants to be an accountant
when he grows up and maybe race
horses on the side.
Corey Waltersdorf of Red Lion
and Josh Howard of Duncannon
said the secret to winning the trac
tor pull is to keep the wheels
straight.
Corey’s brother, five-year-old
Chad was delighted to hear his
brother’s secret He said, “I didn’t
know it before but now I know
how to win too.”
Ten-year-old Travis Forrey
from Red Lion said it was his first
time to compete in a tractor pull
and he won first place in his divi
sion. “You must use your muscles
the best you can,” he said. “I deve
loped mine on my sheep farm.”
The tractor pull was sponsored
by Evergreen Tractor. Agri-
Olympics was sponsored by Leba
non Valley Bank.
hi addition to planned competi
tion, a petting barnyard was avail
able throughout the day. Animals
of Distinction featured dog tricks
that fascinated people of all ages.
Some kids like Nathan Tice and
Brandon Winebark dressed in
fashionable wool outfits and led
their primped and lovely sheep in
the lead line competition.
For some children, it was just
fun to spend time with their ani
mals. Some helped prepared them
for shows, some showed them, and
some walked around admiring all
the livestock.
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Winning Secrets
>pl. Ifl
listens as Travis Forney of Red Lion tells his secret for win
nlng the tractor pull, “Use your muscles the best you can. inthe trartor ~*ill *
These kids show off their ribbons, from left, James Tyler Yost, 4; Andy Matlock, 5;
Chad Waltersdorf, 5; Corey Waltersdorf, 8; Marie Yost, 8, and Jill Matlock, 7.
These Lancaster County friends hang together for KILE activities. Clockwise from
left, Hilary Abbot, 9; Valerie Yates, 10; Heather Abbot, 12; Kate Felax, 10, and Abby
Felax, 12.
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