Lois Selle and her daughter, Tarta Selle, members of the Navarino Tractor Club, LLC, run the club’s tractor pull.
Lois, who was born in Kewaunee, farmed with her husband of 29 years, Mel. They started with dairy and now raise crops in the town of Lessor. Mel is also a mechanic at TJR Repair in Shiocton. Lois drives school bus for the Pulaski School District. They have two daughters: Amanda, a registered nurse, and Tarta, who was born in Appleton and now cash crops on a farm next to her parents’. She is also a machinist at Ace Manufacturing Industry in Howard.
This year’s pull is Aug. 10, and the next club meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday at Roosters Bar and Grill in Nichols.
Q What is the Navarino Tractor Club?
A Tarta: “It started with a bunch of neighbors interested in old tractors. They said let’s have a pull and show what we own. It started in 2005. Right now we have about 12 paying members, but we have a lot of people who volunteer to help. We‘re always looking for new members and sponsors and advertisers.”
Q Can you explain the tractor pull?
A Lois: “We have a sled (eliminator) that the tractors hook on and pull as far as they can. There are weight classes and they compete in those classes. Somebody runs the eliminator. A full pull is 300 feet. This year is a point-system pull.”
A Tarta: “The eliminator is set up with weights. You pull as far as you can as weight rises on the sled. It‘s a long, exciting day.”
Q How many participants are there?
A Tarta: “Usually about 60 tractors. We have antique classes and farm classes, which are usually newer. We start at 10:30 and are done by 5:30. Friends and members make the food to sell. It‘s a lot of work.”
Q Who comes to the pull?
A Lois: “We try to get as many neighbors as we can. Some drive their tractors but most of them haul. We have people come from all over—Kewaunee, Madison. We want families and kids to come. It’s a time to communicate and talk. We get a lot of older neighbors watching. We’ve gotten lots of compliments. There are picnic tables and bleachers, and I have a whole bunch of chairs.”
Q Why do you do it?
A Lois: “The biggest thing is we want to promote tractor pulls. I really appreciate all the businesses in the area who are sponsors and advertise.”
A Tarta: “I do it for the friendly competition in the area and seeing the difference in the tractors.”
Categories
