Bonham, Texas was home to the Texas and Pacific Railroad Divisional Roundhouse in 1881. It was here that railroad engines would be serviced and repaired, positioned on the brick T&P Railroad Turntable, and returned to service freshened and anew. Just a few yards from the remnants of the old railroad turntable, the Lone Star Garden Tractor Pullers Association machines were rolled out and returned to service during the 2013 season opening event, held in conjunction with the Bonham Heritage Day celebration.
Opening ceremonies included an outstanding presentation of our National Anthem, delivered by Bailey Melvin and Morgan Dellow in an awesome duet performance.
Mason Hovind then made his LSGTPA pulling debut in grand fashion, with a win in the Youth Class, aboard his 'Yes Deere' John Deere entry. Lane Duncan, aboard his ' Texas T-Rex', turned in a Runner-Up finish and Aidan Hovind posted a third place finish. Cassidy Bramlett took her 'Nacho' tractor to a fourth place finish, with Jared Stephan scoring a top five pull. Kody Langham and Aston Atkins rounded out the top of the highly competitive Youth Class pulling field.
Steve McCarley took the Stock title, with Alton Degner and Claude Lewis, Sr. placing second and third. Skeet Degner pulled to a fourth place spot, just inches in front of Jarod Howdeshell and Kolby Langham. In the newly formed Stock Diesel class, Ken Langham Jr. pulled his Bonham Service Center tractor to the victory. The Big Stock field was topped by Alex Jesko, with Shawn Aufdenkamp scoring a second place finish. Patrick Bramlett finished third, with Jerry Toland and Kolby Langham scoring top five finishes. Alton Degner rounded out the Big Stock tractor entries.
Alex Jesko doubled up, with a win in Stock Altered, over the 'A-Muck' entry of Patrick Bramlett and the 'Pulling for Peanuts' machine of Michael Mayberry. Ken Langham took the victory in Super Stock Class, and Steve Pierce took the title in the Motorcycle powered class, with 'Buzzards Roost'. The Outlaw Class title was taken by John Aufdenkamp's 'Three of a Kind' triple engine tractor, over Ken Langham Sr.'s 'Going Green' electric powered machine.
The wild Mini Rod class saw two full pulls, with David Houchen taking the win over Jerry Toland's 'Shinin Time' tractor. Colby Crowe finished in the third place position aboard his 'Weekend Warrior' machine, by a margin of less than one inch, over the '99% Moody' tractor of Sarah Moody. In the Super Rod Class, James Moody pulled to the victory, with Donny Mayo and Randall Moody placing second and third. Tyler McCarley and John Kiemele turned in top five finishes to begin the season.
The LSGTPA teams have left the old T&P Railroad roundhouse site in Bonham, with the next stop scheduled for the Hunt County Fair in Greenville, Texas on June 7 and 8. Visit the www.LSGTPA.com website for additional information.
*photos provided with permission,
by Ashley Jesko and Richard Duncan