Bio: Leader. Brian – Places High in National Pedal Pull (Sep 2022)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Leader

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 28 Sep 2022

Colby five-year-old Brian Leader placed eighth at the national pedal pull in Mitchell, S.D. on Sept. 24.

Brian had success all summer as he ran through a series of nine pedal pulls. Among his first place efforts were Colby Cheese Days, Taylor County Youth Fair, Clark County Fair, Athens Fair, Central Wisconsin State Fair in Marshfield and Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau.

After qualifying for state at three different sanctioned events throughout the summer, the Leaders traveled to Menomonie to compete in the state pedal pull. There, he placed third out of pullers from across the state, qualifying for nationals in the process.

The national pedal pull was held at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. where Brian pulled against children from all across the country and took home eighth place. The result was despite the fact that Brian had been competing as a four-year-old all summer but turned five right before the national event and had to compete in the five-year-old category during the national event.

Brian said he wanted to come back and win the state and national competitions next year and has shown the determination to do so.

The Leaders have multiple tractors that are similar to the ones used for the pedal pull events. Seemingly every night, Brian is out in the yard of their Colby home or on the street pulling a weighted bucket or even his brother, John, behind one of his pedal pull tractors. The family even makes marks with chalk in the road to mark the distance that a normal pedal pull would have the contestants pull to.

New pedal pull tractors cost about $750 according to Brad Leader, Brian’s father, but the family hopes to buy or build Brian a pedal pull tractor similar to the “Eliminator” that is used in the pedal pulls so he can practice using the tractor he’ll be using at competitions.

Pedal pullers also normally pull on a rubber or carpet mat and Brad and Ashley even joked about replacing a portion of their lawn with that material to make a realistic track for Brian.

When asked if he will win the national competition, Brian said with a smirk, “Yeah, probably.” The confidence is a welcome sight as pedal pulling becomes more and more competitive across the state and nation. His parents, Brad and Ashley, said they didn’t know the national pulling organization was as big of a deal until they experienced the events this summer.

“We had no idea how big this is throughout the country. It’s a big event and big weekend with a lot going on,” Ashley said.

The Leaders said companies sponsor the trophies that are given out to kids during the events but otherwise, every event they go to and hotel they have to book for far away competitions is on their own dime. During their trip to South Dakota, the Leaders made a mini-vacation out of it as they toured the Corn Palace and played in the hotel pool.

Brian’s height and weight advantage over other kids has been a huge proponent of his success. Ashley and Brad said he has been in the 99th percentile and even higher in height and weight measurements since he was born.

Ashley is currently a paraprofessional at the Abbotsford School District and Brian is an employee of Colby Metals Inc. Brian is currently in the 4K program at the Abbotsford School District. When he’s not pulling, he enjoys hunting with his dad, roughhousing with his younger brother and playing with his toy dinosaurs.

Pulling season is over for the summer but Brian will be in action next summer during Colby Cheese Days and other local fairs.