10.12.2022
What's Garden Tractor Pulling?
Q&A with Craig Bowers about Old School Garden Tractor Pullers
Do you know what garden tractor pulling is? Who’d have thought you’d find this much excitement in small-town Farmer, Ohio? The annual “Pull & Show For a Cure” raises money for local NW Ohio school FFA Chapters to help find a cure for cancer.
Thanks to the Old School Garden Tractor Pullers for hosting this event Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, and having us out to capture the action!
Inspiration & Q&A with Founder Craig
Tell us more about Henry, his pulling days, and how he got you into garden tractor pulling.
“Henry started pulling in the mid to late 70’s. Back in the day, the Breiningers raced midgets and stock cars. The fellow that used to drive their cars was a guy by the name of Roy Forbes. Fun fact, their midget held the indoor speed record at Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum for many years. Henry had family friends from Pittsford, Michigan – the Knapp family – that pulled garden tractors, and I think that’s how he got into it. Even to this day, Shirley Knapp still pulls with the Tri-State Mini Pullers.
Henry was my neighbor. He pulled at tracks all around the area in those days, local fairs, town festivals, and all sorts of places. His first tractor that he built was the Dirt Digger, and the second was Dirt Digger 2. They were entirely home built. He was known for wearing a Dirt Digger shirt at pulls.”
What are some of your favorite things about garden tractor pulling? What keeps you going all these years?
Where should someone look for their first tractor?
What’s the furthest you’ve ever traveled for a pull?
What are some other local/regional pulling events that you attend or would recommend attending?
*Dedication note: Henry Breininger and his wife Zee both passed away recently. Craig would like to dedicate this year’s “2022 Pull & Show for a Cure” and our video to Henry for getting him started pulling 43 years ago.
