MONROE - The Green County Fall National Tractor and Truck Pull is in its third year, and has been named "Pull of the Year" in 2007 and 2008 by the Badger State Tractor Pullers Association.
Those accomplishments are impressive for an event that was planned to be a one-time event for the 2007 Farm Technology Days in Albany.
Mark Hawthorn of Monticello is the co-founder and now the sole organizer for the event that brought into the county more than 3,000 people in September last year.
Competitors from across the Midwest attended last year. Approximately 90 pullers from as far away as Kansas and Nebraska were in attendance.
Hawthorn is most proud of one unique character of the GCFN.
As a charitable organization, the GCFN has been providing financial support to individuals in the Green County area since its inception in 2007, when $5,000 in proceeds were donated. Profits from the 2009 GCFN will continue to support individuals who have suffered hardship or tragedy.
Hawthorn and his father, Larry, who takes care of the tracks, make final decisions on contributions. The money can be directed to any spot, but all of the money is donated through local nonprofit organizations.
High school scholarships are being established, as well, a project Hawthorn placed with his mother JoAnn, who is a school teacher.
"The most important thing about this event to me has been about bringing the community together," Hawthorn said.
About 75 area businesses and organizations are involved with the pull. Washington Implement of Monticello is the main sponsor for the second year in a row, with many other local businesses financially sponsoring the event.
Many local organizations also are involved with the event through food and drink sales.
Hawthorn has been pulling for about 20 years, because he loves it. But he gets more excited about seeing the hobby he enjoys benefiting families in the area, he said.
The greatest part of organizing the pull is handing over a check to someone who is going through a tough time, he added.
More information can be found at www.greencountyfallnationals.com.
Those accomplishments are impressive for an event that was planned to be a one-time event for the 2007 Farm Technology Days in Albany.
Mark Hawthorn of Monticello is the co-founder and now the sole organizer for the event that brought into the county more than 3,000 people in September last year.
Competitors from across the Midwest attended last year. Approximately 90 pullers from as far away as Kansas and Nebraska were in attendance.
Hawthorn is most proud of one unique character of the GCFN.
As a charitable organization, the GCFN has been providing financial support to individuals in the Green County area since its inception in 2007, when $5,000 in proceeds were donated. Profits from the 2009 GCFN will continue to support individuals who have suffered hardship or tragedy.
Hawthorn and his father, Larry, who takes care of the tracks, make final decisions on contributions. The money can be directed to any spot, but all of the money is donated through local nonprofit organizations.
High school scholarships are being established, as well, a project Hawthorn placed with his mother JoAnn, who is a school teacher.
"The most important thing about this event to me has been about bringing the community together," Hawthorn said.
About 75 area businesses and organizations are involved with the pull. Washington Implement of Monticello is the main sponsor for the second year in a row, with many other local businesses financially sponsoring the event.
Many local organizations also are involved with the event through food and drink sales.
Hawthorn has been pulling for about 20 years, because he loves it. But he gets more excited about seeing the hobby he enjoys benefiting families in the area, he said.
The greatest part of organizing the pull is handing over a check to someone who is going through a tough time, he added.
More information can be found at www.greencountyfallnationals.com.