Staff photo by Fritz Busch Beth Fluegge of rural New Ulm pulls at the more than 149.5 feet on a 1955 John Deere 60 tractor Saturday at the Lafayette Antique Tractor Pull. She completed in the 6,500 pound-factory, powder puff and hobby events.

LAFAYETTE — Women made their presence felt at the Lafayette Antique Tractor Pull at Lafayette Days Saturday.

Beth Fluegge of rural New Ulm didn’t win but placed high in the 6500-pound factory, hobby and powder puff events, driving a 1955 John Deere 60 tractor.

“We’ve gotten trophies with the tractor before. We use it for bailing hay too,” Fluegge said. She plans to compete at the Cobden tractor pull on Labor Day weekend, like she has for a number of years. Beth is also thinking about competing in a Butterfield tractor pull.

Next year, she plans to compete in tractor pulls with her 10-year-old daughter, Emmalie.

Meanwhile, she and her husband, Kevin, are busy with their five kids getting sheep, chickens, and hogs ready to show in 4-H competition next week at the Nicollet County Fair in St. Peter.

Savanna Clemon of Lafayette won the powder puff event, driving a 1953 Oliver Super 88.

“I’m enjoying the nice weather and the adrenaline rush of putting all this (tractor) power in front of us,” said Clemon. “We just put on two new big tractor tires on, too.”

Clemon said she plans to compete at Cobden on Labor Day weekend.

Her son, Tracker, said he enjoys helping his grandpa work on the Super 88 and has been doing so since he was very young.

A. J. Braulick of Courtland was fourth in the 6,500 powder puff.

“I’ve been in tractor pulls for a long time. My grandpa Paul Gieseke helped start tractor pulls here,” she added.

A nice-sized crowd watching the event included Dave Trebelhorn of Winthrop.

“This is about competing just for fun. There are no winners or losers. It’s just for fun,” Dave said.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)