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Tuesday September 13, 2016 Edition
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Addison County Benefit Tractor Pull Continues To Gain Momentum


photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

photo by provided

Tuesday September 13, 2016

Every fall the leaves begin their cascades of red, yellow and orange hues and the people of the Champlain Valley go to the annual Addison County Tractor Pulls. The event honors Ken ‘Zeke’ VanDeWeert and began when Zeke was in the last stages of fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). The community got together to raise money to make his wish of taking one last family vacation become a reality. As a thank you to the community a committee was formed to continue the work and host the Addison County Benefit Pull. Each year the Addison County Benefit Pull returns to the community the same generosity and love that the VanDeWeerts felt for their family member. The money raised is used to help other families in the county that may be in need due to loss, injury or illness.
    “My father Ken ‘Zeke’ VanDeWeert was diagnosed with ALS,” explained Jason VanDeWeert. “When my father’s health was declining, the community got together and raised money for our family to help make my dad’s wish come true and take one last family vacation while he was still able to. As a thank you to the community a committee was formed and decided to start the Addison County Benefit Pull. This was a way to show the community how thankful we were as a family for what the community did for our family and we decided to continue the benefit pull year after year to raise money for other families that may be in need due to loss, injury or illness”.
    The gates of the Addison County Field Days will open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16th and welcome the crowds that will attend. The New York Tractor Puller Association (NYTPA) will be pulling at 6 p.m. “The three classes that NYTPA are bringing are Two Wheel Drive Trucks, Super Farm Tractors and Super Stock Tractors,” explained Jason VanDeWeert. “The NYTPA pullers pull for points. The benefit pull is the last pull for the New York circuit so the champion within those three classes will be decided. The NYTPA pull is a new addition this year.” Admission is $10 adults and $5 for kids ages 5-11 with 4 years old and younger free. The Chicken BBQ Dinner is $12 starting at 5 p.m. On the second day Saturday, September 17th pulling starts at 9 a.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5-11 with 4 years old and younger free. Saturday admission includes entry into the Joe McGinness Concert which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Paquette building. Children’s events that include Pedal pull, bounce house, obstacle course and more are from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Children can start signing up at 1 p.m. The Chicken BBQ dinner starts at 12 p.m.
    Many of the pulling tractors were originally built in the 1970’s as farm equipment and functioned at time of purchase between 120-180 horsepower. Some of the hottest tractor pulling classes at the event will see an excess of 1000 horsepower. “We started this event as it being a one-day event with around 150 hooks and now over the past ten years it had changed into a two-day event with around 400 hooks,” shared VanDeWeert. “Many know that a key contributor to this event was Al ‘Pops’ VanDeWeert. We lost him earlier this summer and many of us have had large shoes to fill. This year the benefit pull will be in memory of him. Al was a resident of Ferrisburgh and was a dairy farmer for about thirty years. He was the one to start the love of tractor pulling in the VanDeWeert family and now his kids and grandkids are certainly carrying on the tractor-pulling hobby.”
    While the event continues to grow each year and about 150 vehicles are expected, the VanDe Weert family does not take it for granted and tries each year to add something new for the fans and expand what they can offer to families. “This event also continues to grow and be successful every year because of our supporters whether that may be our sponsors, spectators or volunteers,” expressed VanDeWeert. “We could not do it without them.” You can make plans to go once again to Field Days and prepare to be entertained and enthralled at the roar of the engine, the smoke from the stack and the feeling of family, commitment and community that brings people together in tradition and shared purpose of making an impact in the lives of local people. For in truth the pulling is more than entertaining. It is symbolic of a people coming together to make a difference.


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