The Pull of Ohio...
So I'm back in the Buckeye State (what is a Buckeye, you ask? Answers on a postcard.) The second half of the trip was equally as good as its slightly better documented counterpart. I'm sure I'll fill in some gaps at some point (a Melville-esque adventure romance with whales and everything...) but for now I want to talk about THE date on Bowling Green's social and cultural calendar, some might call it the Royal Ascot of Northwest Ohio, yes, The National Tractor Pulling Championship.
For readers unfamiliar with the "sport" of Tractor Pulling, er, think beefed up farm equipment dragging weights on a sled, spectated by an equally beefed up fanbase. The aim of preliminary rounds is to complete a "FUUUUUULLLLLL PUUUUULLLLL" in order to secure yourself a place in the "Pull Off." Anyone who hopes the sexual innuendo might be accidental should keep in mind that the supporters' fave slogan is "Git R done." There are also team colours and we eventually fathomed that these referenced the different types of tractor engine; John Deere, International, etc. It is earsplittingly loud and you can hear it all over town whether you want to or not.
However, I shouldn't sneer because it was actually pretty good fun; tractors spewing flames, shedding wheels and rearing up on their back ends provided quite a spectacle. Then there's the food - fried in all its forms, and preferably on a stick. I was particularly fond of the fundamentalist hotdog stand with its overarching "JesUSAves" banner - clever that, eh? I suppose if you wanted to find that contradictory mix of religion, patriotism and bigotry then it was there (especially in the scary array of bumper sticker on sale in the trade stands). But at the same time, these farmers are the ones largely responsible for feeding the country and the army recruiters stalking around reminded you that these are also the people on the front line in Iraq. When the war was mentioned over the tannoy it was pretty poignant. Although comically followed by the announcement, "Ashley Fisher please go to the Info Tent - you have won the chain saw."
For readers unfamiliar with the "sport" of Tractor Pulling, er, think beefed up farm equipment dragging weights on a sled, spectated by an equally beefed up fanbase. The aim of preliminary rounds is to complete a "FUUUUUULLLLLL PUUUUULLLLL" in order to secure yourself a place in the "Pull Off." Anyone who hopes the sexual innuendo might be accidental should keep in mind that the supporters' fave slogan is "Git R done." There are also team colours and we eventually fathomed that these referenced the different types of tractor engine; John Deere, International, etc. It is earsplittingly loud and you can hear it all over town whether you want to or not.
However, I shouldn't sneer because it was actually pretty good fun; tractors spewing flames, shedding wheels and rearing up on their back ends provided quite a spectacle. Then there's the food - fried in all its forms, and preferably on a stick. I was particularly fond of the fundamentalist hotdog stand with its overarching "JesUSAves" banner - clever that, eh? I suppose if you wanted to find that contradictory mix of religion, patriotism and bigotry then it was there (especially in the scary array of bumper sticker on sale in the trade stands). But at the same time, these farmers are the ones largely responsible for feeding the country and the army recruiters stalking around reminded you that these are also the people on the front line in Iraq. When the war was mentioned over the tannoy it was pretty poignant. Although comically followed by the announcement, "Ashley Fisher please go to the Info Tent - you have won the chain saw."
posted by Jen at 2:29 PM
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