Pioneer Power tractor pull returns

Engines roared and smoke billowed into the air as competitors revved up their vehicles and took off down the Pioneer Power track in one of the region’s biggest tractor pulls in the region.

In one of the highlights of the annual Pioneer Power Show, crowds came out to the track behind the showgrounds to witness tractors and trucks being pushed to their limit at the Pioneer Power Antique Tractor Pull on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30.

Hundreds of spectators turned out for the competition, which featured factory, hobby stock, open and King of the Hill classes for antique tractors built in 1970 or earlier.

For drivers, the event represents the culmination of weeks spent rebuilding, adjusting and preparing their machines for action.

Like many of the drivers, North Mankato’s Brodie Hoechst grew up with the sport The driver, who took fourth place in the 7,500 hobby stock with his Farmall Super M tractor on Sunday, has been pulling at Pioneer Power for about 10 years after being introduced to the sport by his father and grandfather. Both of his family members ended competing in the pull.

For Hoechst, one of the best moments comes before the tractor has even made its first few feet down the track.

“The greatest feeling is when you first get the sled out of the hole,” he said.

A successful pull can depend on details that aren’t immediately apparent from the grandstand.

Hoechst said drivers have to consider the tractor’s weight distribution, tire settings, track conditions and the sled, among other factors. Even the way a tractor takes off can determine how the rest of the pull unfolds.

“You can tell a lot just on how you take off sometimes,” he said.

Hoechst and his family regularly travel to pulls throughout southern Minnesota, including events at county fairs in the region. Pioneer Power is a regular stop because of the people as much as the competition.

“We’ll always come to this one because we know a lot of people and a lot of people know our tractors,” he said.

For Darren Hilpipre, tractor pulling began from the other side of the track.

The competitor in the 12,500 farm stock grew up watching pulls at his county fair. A cousin of his stepfather who had competed in the sport eventually encouraged him to try it himself.

His father wasn’t initially convinced, but Hilpipre brought a tractor to the fair when he was 16 and he’s been pulling ever since.

Today, Hilpipre said the attraction remains much the same as it was when he watched from the stands.

“Just the horsepower. The speed. Competition,” he said.

The sport also has a strong social component. Drivers who spend the summer traveling to pulls often see the same competitors at events throughout the region, creating a community that extends beyond the track.

Hilpipre said competitors are quick to help one another when a tractor breaks down or another problem arises.

“You meet a lot of people,” he said, adding that he has made connections with people from Wisconsin and Illinois through the sport.

That camaraderie is part of what keeps the antique tractor pulling community going, but so is the opportunity to put decades-old machinery through a distinctly modern test of performance.

Hilpipre said he almost skipped Sunday’s pull because of the heat. He ultimately decided to make the trip, in part because Pioneer Power offers plenty to see beyond the competition.

“It’s a good show to come to,” said Hilpipre. “Besides the pull, there’s a lot to look at.”