Trophies and a spot at the Missouri State Pedal Tractor Pull held during the 2024 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August.

That is what was on the line Friday night at Owensville’s Memorial Park during the annual children’s pedal tractor pull held as part of the Owensville Community Fireworks Display put on by the Owensville Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD).

Boys and girls ranging in age from four to 10 were looking to pull their way into the overall top three for trophies or be among the top three boys and girls in each age group to qualify for the state pedal tractor pull in Sedalia.

Among four-year-olds, a total of 17 of them competed making them the most popular age division.

Elias Hempelmann took first place overall with a full pull and then a second pull of 45 feet even to break a three-way tie.

Tucker Grellner placed second overall with a full pull and a second pull of 21 feet, three inches while Abbi Meyer rounded out the overall top three with a full pull and a distance of 18-4 on her second pull.

Kaylee Warden also qualified for state with a pull of 16 feet even giving her second place among four-year-old girls.

Following Hempelmann and Grellner, Bennett Schneider recorded a pull of 31-4 to place third among four-year-old boys.

With only five kids in the five-year-old division, three of the pullers earned trophies while all five contestants qualified for the state pedal pull.

Addie Hagedorn topped the field with three full pulls while Chase Heberle finished second with a pair of full pulls and a distance of 41-1 on his third pull.

Gracie Smith’s pull of 40 feet event gave her third place overall and second among five-year-old girls behind Hagedorn.

Ryan Lambert (2nd, 39-10) and Lane Adkison (3rd, 17-7) rounded out the top three boys in the five-year-old division.

A total of 10 six-year-olds competed in their age group near the midway point of the pull.

Cash Reprogle topped the field with a pull of 42-5 followed in second place by Brayden Blaue (41-8) and Kade Koelling (26-7).

River Evans (18-10) and Victoria Beil (15-11) qualified for the state pull as the top two girls in the six-year-old division.

In the seven-year-old division, a total of seven pullers competed for the three trophies.

Drake Schlottach topped the field with a pair of full pulls and a third mark of 48-5 while Beckett Schneider also had a pair of full pulls and a third distance of 40 feet even putting him in second place overall and among the seven-year-old boys.

Lucas Hart’s pull of 46 feet even placed him third overall and among the boys.

Mabel Hempelmann posted a pull of 25-2 making her the top seven-year-old girl.

A total of 13 eight-year-olds also competed under the pavilion between the ball field and horseshoe pits.

Brooklyn Blaue topped the field with two full pulls and a third pull going for 40-7.

Eben Kottwitz was second overall and first among eight-year-old boys with two full pulls and a third distance of 26-7.

Kolton Koelling placed third overall and second among boys with a full pull and a second mark of 46-7.

Levi Hempelmann qualified for state placing third among eight-year-old boys with a pull of 41-7.

Aubree Jarvis (37-3) and Henlie Adkison (23-4) placed second and third among eight-year-old girls to qualify for state in Sedalia.

It was nearly pull and get a trophy in the nine-year-old division with four competitors competing.

Bryer King topped the field with a pull of 47 feet even followed Harley Geisler’s second-place pull of 31-4 and Jayden Lowe’s third-place pull of 26-7.

Rydian Sovar also qualified for state with a pull of 14-5.

Capping the pull was the 10-year-old division and reigning National Champion Eli Wax.

Pulling first, Wax recorded a pair of full pulls to top the division.

Bryli Blaue placed second overall and first among 10-year-old girls with a full pull and a second distance of 19-2.

Jase Gruenke placed third overall with a full pull and a second pull of 19-2.

Paisley Hempelmann also qualified for state with a pull of 16-6 placing her second among 10-year-old girls.

Chase Hibbs punched his ticket to Sedalia with a distance of 20-6 placing him third among 10-year-old boys.

Pullers that did not make the top three have at least three more chances to qualify at sanctioned pulls throughout the month of July.

Their first chance will be this Saturday at the New Haven Youth Fair followed on Sunday, July 21 at the Gasconade County Threshers Association (GCTA) annual show and on Thursday, July 25 during the annual Gasconade County Fair.