Loud motors, dirt, and a few billows of smoke - The Pioneer

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BIG RAPIDS — Every year when the county fair makes its way to town, there are plenty of things for the community to look forward to.

For some, it’s seeing their children hop on a ride or win a prize, and for others it’s grabbing a helping of fried food followed up with a sugary treat.

But there are some who check the fair schedule when it is released each summer to see what grandstand events will be taking place that week.

Among the many events with the biggest pull — no pun intended — is the tractor-pull competition.

Loud diesel engines, a few thick blasts of black smoke and a crowd whipped up into a frenzy: that is part of what makes tractor pulling so special for Alex Goodale and Bob Venhuizen of Grand Rapids.

For them, it is all about entertaining the kids and putting on a show.

“It was started out specifically just as a crowd-pleaser, something that broke up the difference between the standard truck or tractor you see going down the track,” Goodale said. “I’ve been involved with it now (for) 15 years.”

Venhuizen, who is Goodales’s friend as well as the one typically in the driver’s seat of the tractor, has been at the wheel for four years now.

He said it is an adrenaline rush but, at the same time, he enjoys putting on a show and getting a new generation of youngsters interested in the art of tractor pulling.

“The reactions from all the kids and the fans is always fun,” Venhuizen said.

The friendly setting of the county fair frequently provides an opportunity to make tractor pulling a truly immersive experience for anyone wanting to get a closer look at the ins and outs.

Goodale said parents are bringing their kids out to the track to see the same tractors that they once saw in their youth.

“It is good when you see the smiles on their faces,” Goodale said. “We have a ladder on the other side (of the tractor) and they can actually climb inside the truck and see what it is.”

Venhuizen said that is a unique aspect of the tractor pull and one that is not typically offered to

the fans.

The 2021 Mecosta County Fair is usually a destination on Goodale and Venhuizen’s list.

“We usually come every year,” Goodale said. “They have good food — there’s some steak out there that’s really good.” 

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