×

National Plowing Contest Championships make triumphant return to Marshall County

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Mike Winkler of Illinois talks with an event judge while plowing his plot in the Open Class National Championships at the 2021 National Plowing Contest held in Conrad on Saturday. Winkler won the event with a score of 201 points.

CONRAD — It was described as “a work of art” by the event’s host. It was a sight not often seen for many around the country, but plowing competitions have held a niche popularity in the upper Midwest since the 1930s.

Saturday afternoon was the culmination of the most important weekend in the year for the USA Plowing Organization — the 2021 National Plowing Competitions, held in Marshall County, Iowa for the first time since the late 1970s.

Hosted by Kevin Holl and held at the Marshall County Ag Expo near Conrad, the event brought some of the best tractor plowers in the country to one place. The National Competition has been going on since the late 1930s, although it did not take place during World War II. Competitors from Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Connecticut took part.

With multiple categories ranging from Antique class (tractors must have been made before 1938) and the Open Class to the Small Tractor class and junior divisions, there was plenty of plowing to keep an eye on.

Holl called the running of the event a success.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - 2021 National Plowing Contest Small Plow division champion Gene Gruber (left), runner-up Hailey Gruber (center) and third place finisher John O’Brien (right) pose with their plaques.

“I had a lot of compliments,” Holl said. “They said it went really well, one of the best they’ve ever been to. The weather cooperated, I know it was hot a couple days but still.”

Spectators rode up to the Open Class plowing site on gators and ATVs, though some walked over. Watching the tractors toil away with speed and precision (competitors had to finish plowing their plot in less than 75 minutes or face a point deduction), there was a clear emphasis on technical skill.

Competitors are judged on a number of factors when scores are calculated — everything from the straightness and uniformity of the first furrow to the depth of the furrows is under review. Points can be deducted for finishing on the wrong end of the plot or for making extra wheel tracks, while discretions like manipulation or illegal use of equipment are 20-point deductions.

One of the weekend’s winners, Small Plow champion Gene Gruber of Minnesota, said it takes months of training to rise to the level of nationals.

“We did a lot of preparation for this weekend, I practiced spring to fall so I’m always ready for a contest,” Gruber said. “We got here early and adapted to the conditions, which were good. If you’re having trouble during a contest, there’s a good chance other people are having the same trouble.”

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Iowa native Chad Adelmund works on his plot of land Saturday in the Open Class of the 2021 National Plowing Contest, hosted in Conrad by the Iowa Plowing Association. Adelmund finished fifth, the best of the three Iowans competing in the event.

Four Iowans took part in the Small Plow competition — Ray Elsberry, Craig Warner, Holl and Mike Fitz.

Events for the weekend began with state championships on Wednesday, while horse plowing matches were held Thursday. Holl said a good number of spectators showed up for this event.

In the Open class there were three competitors from Iowa — Ben Fitz, Brianna Williams and Chad Adelmund. Adelmund led the group of Iowans by finishing in fifth place with 190 points, while Williams was eighth at 187 and Fitz ninth at 183.

The winner of the Open class was a first-time participant at nationals. Mike Winkler of Illinois took home the top prize and a spot at the World Plowing Championships (tentatively set for Russia in August of 2022) in his debut at the national stage, and he said he was surprised he came out on top.

“One of my bucket list items was to try to get out here and qualify,” Winkler said. “The whole group was very fun to be around with, they’re very knowledgeable and they were quick to answer any questions.”

While there weren’t as many people on Saturday as Holl had hoped, he was pleased with the overall proceedings.

So was the USAPO President, John Gaard, who was in attendance all weekend and presented plaques to the top finishers Saturday afternoon.

“It went really well,” Gaard said. “The Iowa Plowing Association put a lot of effort into it, made it a really nice event.”

It will be a few years before the USAPO possibly returns to Marshall County, with a rotating set of hosts in place. But the event’s long-awaited return to the area was met with positivity — and with action pleasing to the traveling competitors.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today