Farmers and ranchers are revving up their antique engines as they prepare to join the Delaware State Fair in Harrington for an exciting 2021 season.
The 27th Annual Antique Tractor Pull will display friendly competition and, of course, antique tractors Saturday, July 31.
The event, hosted by the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer’s and Rancher’s Committee, is held annually at the Quillen Arena on the Delaware State Fairgrounds during the last day of the fair.
“The idea of a tractor pull goes back to an old-school tradition. You know, farmers being farmers and wanting to see who has the tractor with the most horse power,” event chairperson Steve Breeding said. “It’s really about bragging rights. You’ve got tractors as old as the 1940s, I’d say. It’s just a great time to get together.”
Proceeds help the organization raise funds for its annual scholarships which are highlighted during the event. This year’s awardees, and the Delaware Farm Bureau Ambassador of the Year, will be announced about halfway through the day.
The tractor pull is a great way for the farmers to offer their support for agriculture-minded youth while showing off their prized equipment. Tractors must have been made before 1975 and typically arrive to the event from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They are weighed in starting at 9 a.m. with a driver’s meeting at 8:30 a.m. for an early start to the day. The event sometimes runs as late as 5 p.m., offering a whole day of comradery and fun.
The public is invited to watch the fun from inside the Quillen Arena and cheer on their favorite tractor.
For more information, visit defb.org and follow the Delaware Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers’ Committee on Facebook.