Sports
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Learning to do, doing to learn, learning to live, living to serve. This is the FFA motto, one we all should live by.
Farming is the base of the world today, because without the farmers we would go hungry.
Whether or not one is familiar with the history of tractor pulling doesn’t seem to matter much when the dirt starts flying and the black smoke fills the air as today’s pullers give it their all to make that full pull for a crowd of screaming fans.
This tradition, traced back to the 1800s, continues to grow stronger every year as competitors travel far and wide to claim the ever-coveted power-pulling prizes.
According to the Richland FFA Alumni president Adam Ray, the need for the Seventh Annual Richland FFA Alumni Truck and Tractor Pull to extend to two nights demonstrates the growing trend is obviously local as well.
“This is the main fund-raiser for the Richland FFA Alumni,” Ray said. “Each year we have more and more entrants. The classes get bigger, the tractors get bigger, the trucks get bigger and the crowds get bigger.”
The Truck and Tractor Pull is set to go on the grounds of the Robert Dunnavant Memorial Park in Lynnville, beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10, and at 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 11. David Dunbar Diesel Motor Sports will test trucks of their power.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 children ages 7-12 and free for children ages 6 and under. All hook-ups will cost $15.
Friday night will feature antique tractors and light weight tractors and trucks. Saturday night will host the heavier tractors and the super stock tractors and trucks. Both nights will have a raffle for a commemorative Col. Littleton knife, a 2009 collectors series bone handle pocket knife.
The Richland FFA Alumni was established in 2004 and now has 16 lifetime members and 12 annual members. The Alumni started from scratch and has grown into an outstanding organization, Ray said. A lot of hard work by the members and outsiders as well has kept the alumni going.
Richland High School FFA Advisor Jeremy Doggett supports the alumni, saying it is an intricate part in the education and growth of the school’s agricultural students.
“Through their time and efforts, the alumni has assisted in the development and success of our career and technical students at Richland High School,” he said.
The tractor pull serves as a medium that brings the active chapters together in a common purpose.
Monies raised through fund-raisers, like the truck and tractor pull, will help pay students’ way to state and national conventions and buy equipment for the students to use as learning tools. The Richland FFA Alumni also contributes to the Robert Dunnavant Annual Scholarship Fund, Doggett said. This is to insure the ability of a graduating senior to continue his or her education in agriculture.
“This small town will see some big-time action Friday and Saturday nights,” Ray said. “Everyone in the family can sit back in their lawn chairs, back of the truck or lay on a blanket on the grass and spend time with family, friends and neighbors while ‘chowing down’ on good food and taking in all the excitement. From the antiques to the ‘big boys,’ this two-day event is definitely fun-filled, action-packed family fun.”
— Staff Reports