Human Tractor Pull

Human Tractor Pull AG WORLD Ag World 15-6-17 An Illinois town that first gained fame for its Cow Chip Throw may soon gain fame for another "first" - the Human Tractor Pull. Unlike conventional "pulls" where tractors pull weighted sleds, this first-of-itskind contest pits teams of humans against each other pulling tractors. The new sport has fast become the most popular event at the yearly Sweetcorn Festival held in July each year in Chatham, Ill. The brainchild of the Chatham JC's, human tractor pulls have been staged for the past four years. Mark Workman, of the JC chapter, says the human tractor pull is a big crowd pleaser that has added to the attendance of the annual festival. "We had five or six teams pulling this year. We have sections for both men and women," he says. The idea is to pull against time. Teams pull an old IHC Farman M with the trans-mission in neutral. The course is IOU ft.' long. A stop watch clocks the times. "Teams are getting better at it. This year the best time was 9.4 sec. The women's teams are right up there at about 11 sec.," says Workman. There are five pullers on a team. Local rivalries are sometimes set up among teams. The accompanying photo, for example, shows a team of Wal-Mart employees pulling in competition against a team from a local K-Mart, which eventually won the contest. Trophies are given to the winning team. There is no entry fee. "So far we haven't been challenged by any other towns but we would welcome the competition," says Workman. The little town has also gained fame for its Cow Chip Throw, staged each year to raise money for charity. There is a $5 entry fee. This year $760 was raised for a local girl with leukemia. "Anybody can get into the act. Politicians" always do. They're so used. to throwing it anyhow," says Work-man,

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