in L'Erable IL (just east of Ashkum IL) on Sunday July 8, 2018.

Sunday was the L'Erable homecoming & they've had a well-attended "barnyard style" tractor pull for 4 years and found it increasingly popular. My wife's uncle is a "somewhat retired" (??) lifelong local farmer, having been born, grown up, and farmed his entire life just 1 mile west of the church & pull site. Actually, the pull was held in the back yard of the church! There were over 90 "hook entries" for the day. All "barnyard style" tractors, not modified pullers. You'll see these same tractors at plow days in the area. Nothing newer than 1970.

Anyway, "Uncle Leonard" has never pulled before. He's always been a faithful worker at the homecoming  and a life-long member of the sponsoring Catholic Church & felt he was more needed preparing & serving food for the fund raising meals served. But, I suggested to him that perhaps we could raise some funds through pledges if he would consent to an exhibition run during the pull event. That made it OK with Leonard. His concern was his church & it's future. We could probably help it with this.

So, with the help of announcer, Art Downs, over $400 was collected in hopes that Leonard could drive the Farmall 450 & make a full-pull. He made it! Leonard jumped on the 450 & pulled the throttle down like it was nothing. Didn't need any help on either end of the track!

Leonard will be 93 in 2 weeks and has never pulled before, but this put a big smile on his face, as you can see at the end of the video. If you notice on the left side of the track is Leonard's nieces & nephews all loudly cheering him on.

I'm hoping Leonard can pull again next year for his 94th birthday.

Here's his pull yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8Uib8EtIE&t=2s

Thanks for watching

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