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Pulling for Preston offers a big schedule
Pulling for Preston bouncy horses
STARR AND GUY RACE the bouncy horses that are coming to Pulling for Preston this Saturday.

GAYS MILLS - The Fourth Annual Pulling for Preston will return to the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Gays Mills this Saturday, July 28.

Pulling for Preston is a large truck and tractor pull, complete with barbeque food and music, which honors the memory of Preston Nelson. Preston was killed in a tragic traffic accident on Highway 14 near Readstown on April 12, 2015.

Preston’s parents, Guy and Tammy Nelson, along with other family members and an army of helpers puts on the extravaganza each year.

This year, Pulling for Preston will start with the gates opening at 11 a.m. on the county fairgrounds. There will be a $20 admission for adults, while children 10-and-under are $5 and toddlers three-and-under are free. Admission to the event includes all you can eat food—like BBQ ribs, chicken, pork, beef brisket, burgers and hot dogs; and of course the big truck and tractor pull featuring Southwest Wisconsin Pullers. Pulling starts at noon.

“We’ll having everything pulling from antique tractors right on up to the large modified trucks and tractors,” Guy Nelson explained.

Guy is also going to demolish a camper with his bulldozer in the demolition derby pit.

There will be chances for sale to get the exact time it takes Guy to totally demolish the camper and roll his bulldozer over the top of it. There’s a 50-50 payback with half going to charity. The camper smashing is scheduled to take place just before the Big Johnny Cash Show, which starts at 9 p.m.

This year, the entire event will take place in the grandstand area. This includes the pulls, the camper demolition, all of the food and of course the music.

Back by popular demand this year is Johnny Cash impersonator Philip Bauer. His show wowed the crowd two years ago.

How good was it? One fan proclaimed after the show, “Johnny Cash isn’t dead he’s right here.”

“Everybody, young or old, enjoys Johnny Cash songs,” Guy Nelson said. So whether you’re ‘Stuck in Folsom Prison’ or ‘Walking the Line,’ the show starts at 9 p.m. DJ Dom will provide some music before and after Philip Bauer’s recollection of the legend of Johnny Cash. Also expected to make an appearance with his unique blend of music is Tim the Floppy Cowboy.

If that’s not enough, longtime pro football center Frank Winters will be at the fairgrounds signing autographs from 1 to 3 p.m. Winters played as the Green Bay Packers Center from 1992 to 2002.

Want more? There will be some games and races for adults and children.

The Ridge and Valley Rodeo Club’s Tracy Byl is bringing her bouncy horses for young and old to race.

There will also be a bouncy house or two to amuse the kids. For the brave, Guy will bring the mechanical bull.

This year’s Pulling for Preston will not feature BBQ Food Cook-off, although there will be plenty of BBQ food on hand. The competition will now be centered on a steak cook-off. Anyone can enter the steak cook-off competition, according to Nelson. Each competitor will get two inch-and-a-quarter rib-eye steaks to work their magic upon. Pro-cookers John and Judy, who have helped with the BBQ cook-off in the past, will be the judges and organizers of the steak cook-off.

To register for the steak cook-off or for more information on the pulls or other events call 608-632-3178.