Race to the Finish

"Go Noah! Go!" I shouted as my 7-year-old son pulled a 100-pound load behind a pedal tractor at our local fairgrounds this evening. "To the trees!"

In the end, Noah covered a 23-foot distance. His finish was better than two preceding competitors, but shorter than the race's starter – his school chum, Cole, who pedaled 26 feet.

I chatted with Cole before the race. "Are you gonna take first again this year?" I asked. He said,"I'm gonna try. Then I'll have five in a row!"

"Wow! That makes you the undefeated defending champ!" I said. Cole explained his strategy: "I'm gonna try to make it to the end of the cement."

"Well, I'm gonna go for the trees!" Noah piped up with hope of topping the second-place trophy he took home last year. After his 23-foot run, Noah received his can of Dr. Pepper for participating and returned to the picnic table. He looked at Cole and said, "Well, I'm still in second place."

Two more 7-year-olds pulled for distances well under 20 feet.Then the announcer called forward the last entrant – the boys' classmate, Ella!

She mounted the tractor and began working the pedals in her flip-flops. When she stopped, the judge called out: "29-feet!"

He then handed out trophies: third place to Noah, second place to Cole and...

First Place to Ella.

Ella's mom prompted her toward the boys to shake hands with her competitors. I held up my hand for a high-five: "Way to beat the boys, Ella!"

"She's been riding bike all summer – on the grass," her mom explained. "I was listening to the radio and heard the Kiddie Tractor Pull started at 5:00. I got off work at 4:30, picked up the girls and we made here at 5:05 and they let us enter."

A Race to the Finish in more ways than one. And a new local champ for youngsters in this age bracket.


In consolation, Noah said,"Well, I still got my pop, my Nachos (a treat from Mom) and my trophy!

"That makes two trophies – a third place and a second place.

"And that's more than Isaac or Aaron ever got!"

Yes, yes! Always a Race To the Finish.