Fair board votes to end Saturday tractor pull, turn event to raceway

Troy Steinhardt, a Dunn County Fair Board member, moved to discontinue the Saturday tractor pull and turn responsibility for pulling events over to the raceway; the motion was seconded by Larry, and the board approved the change by a show of hands.

The action followed extended discussion among board members and event partners about rising costs, staffing demands and declining gate receipts for the tractor pull. In presenting the motion, Steinhardt said, “I guess if it's time, I guess I'd like to make a motion to not have the tractor pull on Saturday nights.” Board members debated alternatives — including a lower-cost “farm pull” format, asking the raceway to stage the pull, or attempting to shrink the purse — before taking the vote.

Why it matters: The tractor pull has been held at the fair for roughly 26 years and is an established tradition for many attendees. Board members said the pull requires substantial staff time and paid labor; moving the event to the raceway shifts operational and labor costs off the county and could save the fair tens of thousands of dollars in a typical year.

Board discussion and conditions

Board members and community representatives raised three recurring points during debate: (1) finances — whether keeping the pull was sustainable given recent losses; (2) community reaction — the likelihood of negative local response if the pull were removed from the fair schedule; and (3) return options — whether the pull could be brought back later if the experiment failed.

Several members said the fair has lost money on the tractor pull in recent years and that staging the event requires extensive track preparation and staffing. One board member estimated that moving the pull to a Friday/Saturday racing schedule could save about $4,000 to $4,500 in track-preparation hours the fair would otherwise pay for. Others warned the pull’s long local history could prompt backlash if organizers stop offering it.

Direction to staff and next steps

The board asked fair staff to notify the raceway and to work with raceway organizers to develop a plan for Friday or Saturday events, including purses, gate handling and logistics. Board members said they want an update from the raceway at an upcoming meeting; the board’s chair said he would call raceway representatives and request that the raceway pursue a “big” show for a Friday or Saturday date.

Formal action

- Motion: “Not have the tractor pull on Saturday night; turn it over to the raceway.” - Mover: Troy Steinhardt (member, Dunn County Fair Board) - Second: Larry (board member; full name not specified in transcript) - Outcome: Approved by voice/hand vote. Exact tally not specified in the transcript. - Notes: Board requested follow-up from raceway and an update at a future meeting; the change is intended to reduce fair labor and prep costs while preserving fair programming.

Community and operational context

Board members discussed lower-cost alternatives such as reviving a local farm pull or a reduced-purse format to maintain a pulling event without the current expense level. Several members said they would prefer a short trial period to test the change for one or two years, with the understanding a traditional Saturday pull could be restored if the change proves unpopular or unsuccessful.

What remains unresolved

The board did not record a final plan for gate fee sharing, purse amounts or the specific responsibilities of raceway staff versus county staff. Board members asked that staff and the raceway return with concrete proposals on scheduling, purses, gate handling, parking and expected cost-sharing.

Ending

The board’s vote effectively shifts planning and financial responsibility for the tractor pull away from the Dunn County Fair Board and toward the raceway for upcoming fairs; staff will report progress to the board at a later meeting.