8-year-old advances to national tractor pull

This article submitted by Linda Stelling on 9/24/96.

With a pull of 32 feet and one inch, Jessica Schwartz, 8, Roscoe, earned the right to advance to the national pedal tractor pull on Sept. 28 in Omaha, Neb.

The daughter of Dale Schwartz and Theresa Mackedanz, Roscoe, Jessica was excited and thrilled to have earned a second place finish at the State Pedal Tractor Pull in Hutchinson held at the McLeod County Fairgrounds on Sept. 14.

It was harder pulling at Richmond than at the state pull, Jessica said. Her first place pull at Richmondâs River Lake Days earned her the trip to the state competition. Jessica had pulled through the course twice and the third time she placed second overall in her age group.

ãThe first thing she did Monday following the pull was to take her trophy to school for show and tell,ä Mackedanz said. ãShe has always been a pretty strong girl,ä Jessicaâs mother said. To prepare for the state pull, Jessica practicd riding her grandfatherâs three-wheel bike pulling her 11-year-old sister, Jennifer, around the yard in a wagon.

At the state pull, there were 974 youngsters competing in various age groups. Mackedanz said Jessica competed in her first pull last year in Richmond, just missing third place. ãI was amazed at how well she could do. Going to Omaha to compete in the nationals is a once in a lifetime chance for her. Now all we have to do is figure out how to get there,ä she added.

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