GILBERT -- The antique tractor pull has been around the West End Fair for decades, but this year, farm equipment enthusiasts in Monroe County have something new to get excited about.
The engines are firing at full speed, trying to pull their weight and then some at the annual antique tractor pull at the West End Fair in Gilbert. Organizers say the draw is twofold.
“The love for these old antique tractors, and of course everybody likes the bragging rights, theirs being the strongest most powerful and this is the only way to prove it,” said vice president Roger Heckman of the Pocono Farm Old Tyme Farm Equipment.
Retired farmer Ronald Reese has been coming by for more than 50 years and says this takes some talent to win.
"The weight will distribute different, that's what it is, the weight is different. And a lot of times it depends on the driver, too,” said Ronald Reese of Pocono Summit.
One by one, these big boys and their big toys took center stage, some getting some serious traction, others, not so much
Money raised at this old-time tractor pull over the years has helped open a brand new building here at the West End Fair.
This antique farm museum opened its doors this week, a project 20 years in the making.
Franklin Hahn from Nazareth came to check it out and says many of these machines, like the hit and miss engines are ones he used to use on his farm.
"Years ago, the city people had electric, but the country people didn't have electric so you had to rely on stuff like this,” said Hahn.
The about $100,000 investment is one these tractor fans are proud of, and excited to share all week long.
"We basically now have a home, this is where we play,” said Heckman.
The West End Fair runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds just off Route 209 in Gilbert.