A. J. Braulick, 15, and her mother Julie Braulick drove antique case tractors owned by A. J.’s grandfather, Paul Gieseke.

“I like this because I can prove that women can do a tractor pull as much as guys can do,” said A. J. Braulick.

“I like being out here and seeing old tractors again,” said her mother, Julie Braulick.

Gieseke, who farmed near Swan Lake most of his life, provided the antique tractors including a 1955 Case 400 stock. He also owns a 1948

Case DC and a 1958 Case 800. His newest tractor is a 1967 Case 830 he uses to blow snow.

Below: A. J. Braulick of rural Courtland competes in the powderpuff division of the Cobden Day tractor pull Sunday.

“It’s pretty laid back. The Prairieland Flywheelers Two-Cylinder Club (who put on the tractor pull) are a nice bunch of people,” said Paul Gieseke.

He doesn’t compete in tractor pulls anymore but he’s got about 50 trophies for his efforts years ago in tractor pulls at county fairs in New Ulm and St. Peter, threshing bees in Butterfield and LeSueur and tractor pulls formerly held in Sleepy Eye, Leavenworth and Nicollet.

“I was going to quit tractor pulls, but the girls kept me going,” said Gieseke. “If they stay interested, I may have to invest in some more tractors.”

Gieseke operated a dairy farm with Holstein cows and livestock for many years.

Some tractor pulls went a great distance.

Wally Engles finished second in the 4500 King of the Hill division, pulling 261.43 feet. Greg Grausam won the division with a pull of 303.62 feet.

Others at the Cobden Day tractor pull said they came to enjoy mingling with people and seeing old friends.

After the tractor pull, a bean bag tournament was held. Cobden Day concluded with the six-member rock band IV Play performing from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

(Fritz Busch can be

emailed at fbusch@nu

journal.com).