Tractor pulling has an interesting history behind the unique competition. Tractor pulls happen every summer all over the country with some of the coolest tractors. Many rural areas of the United States love this tradition. Here is a little taste of the history behind the pull.
It All Started with Horses
Before they used tractors, horses were the main workers of farms. In the 1860s, horses were used to pull machines used on farms, and farmers would often brag to other farmers about how strong their horses were. When they wanted to show off their horses and settle arguments, the farmers would take a barn door down, lay it flat on the ground, attach their horses to it, and see how many people the horse could pull as they piled onto the door.
It ultimately was to test the horse’s strength, and also for the farmers to have bragging rights for the rest of the year. After a while, this turned into an event for people to come see and cheer on their horse to win the pull.
Then, there were Tractor Pulls
In the early 1900s, tractors came along for farmers to be able to plow their land and supply food for communities all around. This is the way efficient farming came about. People started relying on tractors to pull their heavy equipment around. After they witnessed the strength of the tractors, tractor pulling events started to pop up. By the 1950s and 1960s, tractor pulling took a life of its own and those in states across the country challenged one another to tractor pulls.
Modern Day Tractor Pulling
The National Tractor Pullers Association was later created in 1969 with representatives from eight states, including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The NTPA created a standard set of rules for tractor pulls and worked to make them safer and more competitive. Tractor pulling continues to be a big event spread across the country, and it has kept evolving over time.
Tractor pulling requires certain tractor parts to perform the best in an event. At SCS Gearbox, we can provide custom tractor pulling parts for your tractors. Contact SCS Gearbox at 419-483-7278 today or visit us online for more information.