Ag Weekly: Local tractor competitor pulls out a big win

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - Tractor pulling is a well-loved competition in the north country.

But one participant takes it much further than local grandstands.

“I couldn’t begin to tell you the hours we have invested,” tractor pulling competitor Lance Micek said. “It would be thousands upon thousands, I’m sure.

Micek and his tractor High Hopes have traveled all over the state and beyond for tractor pull competitions this year. The season ended in September, capping a big year of effort, with a big result.

“We wanted to survive, just make it through the whole season, and of course, in 2023 we ended up as points champion in the state,” Micek said.

It’s a win made sweeter by the fact that Micek builds his own tractors.

“This tractor weighs in at 7,700 pounds and the weight transfer sled simulates 250,000 pounds,” he said. This machine is now probably between 4,500 hundred horsepower with four turbochargers and performance parts.”

Even though Micek is often up against competitors with more money and resources for their machines, he says it’s not about that, it’s about the passion for the pull.

“When it comes time for you to go, your heart starts racing, you can’t make spit in your mouth, everything is tensed as the flagman is waving you to come on the track,” Micek said. “You start the button, it fires up, and you have this big sigh of relief that it works.

For Micek and High Hopes, the hopes remain high to go from state champs to national champs next season.

“It’s like anything else in this world,” he said. “If you want to succeed, you have to work hard and put the effort in and dream big.”

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