Business Developed Around Pedal Tractor Pulls

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1, Page #08

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When Eric Willey’s kids got into pedal tractor pulling competitions, Willey and his wife thought it was just for fun. Eight years later, they’ve added a thriving tractor pull enterprise to their lawn care business.
“My 12-year-old daughter Brittany has been participating since she was four,” says Willey. “A few years ago, some of the guys who attend meets suggested I start a pulling company. We thought, ‘Why not?’ We go to pulls almost every weekend anyway.”
Running a pedal tractor pulling competition requires a pulling sled and tractors. Willey has a trailer decked out for pulls. It holds the tractors, a public address system for announcing races and tables for signing up entries and displaying trophies.
Willey charges a flat fee for putting on a competition, plus mileage from his home. He puts on competitions throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Willey already had a pulling-style pedal tractor with large wheels custom-built for his daughter. He found a pulling sled (he now has two), and bought 8 more tractors costing $1,000 to $2,000 each. Soon he was in business.
In addition to the large wheels, pedal tractors for pulling contests are all geared according to age group. Willey compares them to 10-speed bikes. With 9 age groups from ages 4 to 12, tractors for the youngest age group are geared for easy pulling.
“The tractor for the oldest age group is like starting out the bike in 10th gear,” says Willey. “They really have to work.”
The pulling sled is a scaled down version of full-size tractor pulling sleds. Willey’s was made from old aluminum hog confinement crates. The sled is designed to go 34 ft. He plans to build another one that will travel 50 ft.
Willey pays a small fee to the tractor pulling associations to have his events sanctioned. The top three winners in each class of a sanctioned event are invited to a state pull. Winners in it can go on to a national pull and even an international pull with pullers from the U.S and Canada.
Willey encourages folks to get their kids involved. He says it has given his family reason to get out and travel to other states.
It has also involved him in pedal tractors in a big way. In addition to the pulling business, he also buys and sells used pedal tractors. Currently he has more than 150 in stock for sale as is, or he will restore them.
Recently he expanded his pedal tractor interests in a new direction. He bought Just Like Dad’s, a pedal tractor implement business. With the completion of a new shop, Willey plans to begin making and marketing implements of all types.
“We have all the molds for the original attachments, but are planning to make many more styles and types of implements,” says Willey.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, River Valley Pedal Tractor Pulls, 2212 30th Ave., Osceola, Wis. 54020 (ph 715 294-2845; cell 715 417-0514; www.rivervalleypedaltractorpulls.com)

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Business Developed Around Pedal Tractor Pulls FARM HOME Toys/Games When Eric Willey’s kids got into pedal tractor pulling competitions Willey and his wife thought it was just for fun Eight years later they’ve added a thriving tractor pull enterprise to their lawn care business “My 12-year-old daughter Brittany has been participating since she was four ” says Willey “A few years ago some of the guys who attend meets suggested I start a pulling company We thought ‘Why not?’ We go to pulls almost every weekend anyway ” Running a pedal tractor pulling competition requires a pulling sled and tractors Willey has a trailer decked out for pulls It holds the tractors a public address system for announcing races and tables for signing up entries and displaying trophies Willey charges a flat fee for putting on a competition plus mileage from his home He puts on competitions throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota Willey already had a pulling-style pedal tractor with large wheels custom-built for his daughter He found a pulling sled he now has two and bought 8 more tractors costing $1 000 to $2 000 each Soon he was in business In addition to the large wheels pedal tractors for pulling contests are all geared according to age group Willey compares them to 10-speed bikes With 9 age groups from ages 4 to 12 tractors for the youngest age group are geared for easy pulling “The tractor for the oldest age group is like starting out the bike in 10th gear ” says Willey “They really have to work ” The pulling sled is a scaled down version of full-size tractor pulling sleds Willey’s was made from old aluminum hog confinement crates The sled is designed to go 34 ft He plans to build another one that will travel 50 ft Willey pays a small fee to the tractor pulling associations to have his events sanctioned The top three winners in each class of a sanctioned event are invited to a state pull Winners in it can go on to a national pull and even an international pull with pullers from the U S and Canada Willey encourages folks to get their kids involved He says it has given his family reason to get out and travel to other states It has also involved him in pedal tractors in a big way In addition to the pulling business he also buys and sells used pedal tractors Currently he has more than 150 in stock for sale as is or he will restore them Recently he expanded his pedal tractor interests in a new direction He bought Just Like Dad’s a pedal tractor implement business With the completion of a new shop Willey plans to begin making and marketing implements of all types “We have all the molds for the original attachments but are planning to make many more styles and types of implements ” says Willey Contact: FARM SHOW Followup River Valley Pedal Tractor Pulls 2212 30th Ave Osceola Wis 54020 ph 715 294-2845; cell 715 417-0514; www rivervalleypedaltractorpulls com

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