MONROE - Tractor pulling is a sport usually dominated by men. That hasn't stopped Monroe's Brandi Meier from turning the Badger State Tractor Pull into a family affair at the Green County Fair Thursday, July 18.
She's one part of the Meier pulling team that includes her husband, Mike Meier, his father John Meier Sr. and her brother-in-laws John Meier Jr. and Dan Meier.
"It's been a family thing in Mike's family for more than 40 years," Brandi said of the pulling tradition. "We are all like one big family. We pull together for four months every summer."
John Meier Jr. finished third place in the Hot Farm division (321.52 feet) and Brandi took fourth (318.38). David Baker, of Polo, won the Hot Farm class (324.59). Brandi has been pulling for 17 years and she started in the farm classes. She said she wasn't intimidated by the male-dominated competitions. In fact, it motivated her.
"There are not a lot of female pullers," Brandi said. "I always liked beating the boys and showing them up. The guys have been really good and have welcomed me as a competitor."
Mike and Brandi Meier compete in about 22 Badger State tractor pulls each season.
"We alternate as drivers," Mike said. "I enjoy the competition, meeting new people and the thrill."
Sauk City's Mark Wyttenbach won the Limited Light Super Stocks with a pull of 363.37, which was just ahead of Monticello's Mark Hawthorn, who finished second (354.17). Hawthorn, who is pulling with "Lil Green Giant," had won four of his last five competitions entering the pull at the Green County Fair. Hawthorn has been pulling for 27 years and his father, Larry Hawthorn has been competing for 53 years. He wasn't satisfied with the pull, but was excited to take second.
"We didn't have a perfect run," Hawthorn said. "We knew our luck would run out sometime. Second is still damn good. It means a lot, especially when you don't go home broke. It's hard to do good in your hometown."
South Wayne's Cory Neff won the Limited Pro Stock division (366.81) and Darlington's Tony McDonald was second (360.36). Nick Cunningham, of Pecatonica, Ill. won the 640 Pro Farm division with a pull of 331.46, which was just ahead of Darlington's Bill Smith who took second (326.87). The other winners include Tim Brinkmeier, of Warren, Ill. in the Pro Stock (368.76) and Jeremy Beetz, of Mendota, Ill. in the Pro Street Diesel (326.73).
It was the first win this summer for Cunningham. When he's not pulling, Cunningham is a farmer and mechanic. He plans to compete in 40 pulls this season in the Badger State Tractor Pull and the Illinois State Pullers league as well.
"It feels great," Cunningham said, after winning the title. "I have been waiting for this all year."
She's one part of the Meier pulling team that includes her husband, Mike Meier, his father John Meier Sr. and her brother-in-laws John Meier Jr. and Dan Meier.
"It's been a family thing in Mike's family for more than 40 years," Brandi said of the pulling tradition. "We are all like one big family. We pull together for four months every summer."
John Meier Jr. finished third place in the Hot Farm division (321.52 feet) and Brandi took fourth (318.38). David Baker, of Polo, won the Hot Farm class (324.59). Brandi has been pulling for 17 years and she started in the farm classes. She said she wasn't intimidated by the male-dominated competitions. In fact, it motivated her.
"There are not a lot of female pullers," Brandi said. "I always liked beating the boys and showing them up. The guys have been really good and have welcomed me as a competitor."
Mike and Brandi Meier compete in about 22 Badger State tractor pulls each season.
"We alternate as drivers," Mike said. "I enjoy the competition, meeting new people and the thrill."
Sauk City's Mark Wyttenbach won the Limited Light Super Stocks with a pull of 363.37, which was just ahead of Monticello's Mark Hawthorn, who finished second (354.17). Hawthorn, who is pulling with "Lil Green Giant," had won four of his last five competitions entering the pull at the Green County Fair. Hawthorn has been pulling for 27 years and his father, Larry Hawthorn has been competing for 53 years. He wasn't satisfied with the pull, but was excited to take second.
"We didn't have a perfect run," Hawthorn said. "We knew our luck would run out sometime. Second is still damn good. It means a lot, especially when you don't go home broke. It's hard to do good in your hometown."
South Wayne's Cory Neff won the Limited Pro Stock division (366.81) and Darlington's Tony McDonald was second (360.36). Nick Cunningham, of Pecatonica, Ill. won the 640 Pro Farm division with a pull of 331.46, which was just ahead of Darlington's Bill Smith who took second (326.87). The other winners include Tim Brinkmeier, of Warren, Ill. in the Pro Stock (368.76) and Jeremy Beetz, of Mendota, Ill. in the Pro Street Diesel (326.73).
It was the first win this summer for Cunningham. When he's not pulling, Cunningham is a farmer and mechanic. He plans to compete in 40 pulls this season in the Badger State Tractor Pull and the Illinois State Pullers league as well.
"It feels great," Cunningham said, after winning the title. "I have been waiting for this all year."
