Horsepower heats up Historic Farm Days tractor pulls

PENFIELD, Ill. — Derek Harms hopes to be seeing red when the tractors get ready to pull during Historic Farm Days.

“We run red equipment and I’m looking forward to seeing some more Case tractors,” said Harms of the featured tractor at the 2024 Historic Farm Days.

The show will feature tractor pulls each evening, starting with antique tractors pulling at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 11.

On Friday, the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association pulls start at 5 p.m. An additional class this year on Friday will be the ITPA’s farm stock class.

“It’s a farm stock tractor, a souped-up farm tractor, with more of a factory look than the pulling tractors. The class is new for us this year so it will be interesting to see how it turns out,” said Harms, organizer of the Historic Farm Days tractor pulls.

On Saturday night, the Illiana Pullers Association pulls will start at 5 p.m.

Registration for the pulls is the day of the event.

“We will have scales on the grounds and we go by weight classes for the antique pulls, from 4,500 up to 10,500 pounds. For each of the pulls, they need to show up, weigh in and go for it,” Harms said.

Harms will not only be doing organizational work, but he will be driving his own 6850 Pro Farm tractor, Ol’ Yeller #2, on Friday night.

“We plan as much as we can, hope for good weather, get the track ready and go for it,” he said.

Featured Brand Schedule

2024 — J.I. Case and Dodge Trucks

2025 — Oliver, Cockshutt and White

2026 — Allis-Chalmers and the Gathering of the Orange National Show

2027 — IH/Farmall

2028 — Minneapolis Moline and B.F. Avery

2029 — Hart-Parr/Oliver National Show

2030 — Massey

2031 — Ford