RURAL OLYMPICS : POTATO RACE AND MODEL T'S MAKE FARMING GAMES A HOOT.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer While the Olympics in Atlanta have come to an end, the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley is about to start its own Olympics - rural style. Using pitchforks instead of basketballs and tractors instead of balance beams, the 46-year-old event has become a favorite during the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa alfalfa (ălfăl`fə) or lucern (l  sûn`), perennial leguminous plant (Medicago sativa Festival, attracting hundreds to watch
residents compete in traditional farm skills.
``It sells out every year,'' said Jim Greenleaf, marketing director for the fair. ``It's the whole reason we have the fair.'' According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Greenleaf, the Rural Olympics gained its start midway through the Great Depression, when Antelope Valley ranchers and truck drivers assembled at the Antelope Valley High School Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It was founded in 1912[1]. It is located in the Mojave Desert. athletic field and challenged each other to hay loading contests and tractor driving skills. ``It was all the things they did every day, so they would challenge each other to see who was the best,'' he said. ``We don't think at that point they knew the tradition they had started, but it's continued ever since.'' This year the event starts at 4 p.m. Aug. 31 in the Redman Grandstand arena. Tickets are $4 and $10. The contests include hay loading, truck and trailer backing, tractor racing, hay stacking, Model T Ford racing, antique tractor racing, antique car An antique car is generally defined as a car over 25 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America and many other organizations worldwide. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. potato racing and a tug of war tug of war n. pl. tugs of war 1. Games A contest of strength in which two teams tug on opposite ends of a rope, each trying to pull the other across a dividing line. 2. . The potato race pairs competitors in teams of two. One drives an antique car, while the other leans out the passenger window holding a long pole, which he uses to spear potatoes scattered around the arena. John Knapp started competing in the Rural Olympics in 1970 in the potato race. Now Knapp also participates in the Model T Ford race and holds the record with his 22-year-old son. The race's contestants drive 100 yards, stop, take off a right tire, run around the car with it, then put it back on. ``It's a unique way of getting deeper and enjoying the fair,'' said Knapp, the 49-year-old automotive technology teacher at Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. . ``Racing the Model T is the greatest adrenaline rush I get all year.'' |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion