Western Farm Show

PULLERS TO WATCH

Western Farm Show Hosts 2014 Championship Tractor Pull

By Susan Fotovich McCabe

Women may rule at the 2014 Western Farm Show Championship Tractor Pull, 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at Kemper Arena. Among the pullers are several young women who are making a big name for themselves.

Larissa Atnip, Nevada, Mo., Loretta Seleman, Garden City, Mo. and Jordan Compton, Creighton, Mo. are just three of the female contestants who hope to walk away winners. According to Dave Bennett, “the voice” of the Western Farm Show’s annual Championship Tractor Pull, these young ladies are on the cusp of giving the men a run for their money.

“We have 20 females competing this year on the summer tour and many of them are getting quite a bit of attention in the sport,” Bennett says. “I have no doubt that Larissa, in particular, is going to be the next Danica Patrick.”

Now in his 31st year as an announcer, Bennett expects thousands of cheering fans to fill Kansas City’s Kemper Arena each night when the Western Farm Show ends at 5 p.m. The Western Farm Show has partnered with The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association in Carthage, Mo. to bring the pull to the show. More than 100 drivers will compete for a little more than $56,000 in prize money. While most of the drivers are from Missouri, the total number of competitors represents nine different states, with the furthest coming from Ohio and South Dakota.

Each night of the competition features five different classes of competition. Additionally, each night will offer a different class of diesel powered tractors and pickups (4x4 or 2-wheel drive). Multi-engine modified vehicles will run on Saturday night with the other classes. In each class, Bennett says fans will be keeping a careful watch on how drivers handle weight distribution and how they read the track. The Western Farm Show Championship Tractor Pull features high horsepower, excitement and personal stories to boot.

Among those personal stories is the three-generation Whitworth family. This year, Junior and Scott Whitworth, a father-and-son duo out of Worthington, Mo., are joined by Scott’s son, Colton. This is Colton’s first time on an indoor short track. In years past, the Whitworths raced in the high-stakes World of Outlaws sprint car circuit and have since moved on to world of competitive tractor pulling. Bennett said, another father-son duo will also compete, as Curt & Craig Ulmer from Menno, SD with the 3 engine modified tractor “Sweet Pain”  has yet to be beat at the farm show as they go for their 4th championship in 4 years.

“Who wouldn’t enjoy the event,” Bennett said. “There’s something for everyone, including the younger generation, teens and wives.”

According to Bennett, the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association will star in a television reality series soon, so the Western Farm Show Tractor Pull is an early preview of what fans will see on TV.

The Western Farm Show is the region’s largest indoor display of farm equipment, and is located in the American Royal Complex, next door to Kemper Arena. It is owned and operated by the SouthWestern Association, which represents nearly 1,800 farm, construction, industrial and outdoor power equipment dealers, as well as 2,400 hardware retailers in eight states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

The 2014 Western Farm Show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. More than 500 exhibitors will be on site, as well as The Family Living Center and Health-and-Safety Roundup, geared for the entire family.

Admission to the pull is $22 on Friday and $27 on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at Kemper Arena each night of the event or at the box office inside the American Royal building during the Western Farm Show. All seating is general admission. Western Farm Show admission is separate and is $8 at the door or $5 with a discount coupon, available by visiting a participating SouthWestern Association dealer. Children under 12 get in free. For more information, visit the Western Farm Show website at www.westernfarmshow.com.