The Bland Fall Festival Saturday hosted a car show and tractor pedal pull among other entertainments arranged by Leslie Cronin on the park board.

“I am so excited for today,” Cronin said at the event. “It’s been a lot of fun. A lot of work put in; and it’s the first time the community has been able to come together in a lot of years.”

As rain was expected and delivered in the afternoon, the car show winners were announced in the early afternoon. Cronin counted 20 cars that signed up for the show. Winners by categories included:

The Bike Show

People’s Choice and Best in Show: Nathan Hale

The Car Show

People’s Choice: David Czeschin

with a 1937 Chevy Coupe

Best in Show:

Mary Jo Cook with a 1967 Chevy. She got a perfect score all the way across. 

First Class Stock: 1900-1959

Sue Dash with a 1956 Chevy Bel Air

Second Class in Stock: 1960-1988 

Jerry Haggard with a 1962 Buick LaSabre

Third Class Stock Class 1989 - Present

Charlie K. with a 1992 Chevy Corvette 

Fourth Class Street Machine 1949-1972

Mary Jo Cook with 1967 Chevy

Street Machine 1973 to present

Randy Jones 1979 Pontiac Trans Am

Street Rods

Harold with 1947 Ford Coupe

Class 8 Stock Truck

Buck Beesley with 1993 Ford F150

Class 9 Custom Truck

Mitch with a 1934 Ford pick up.

Class 10 Special Interest

Tia Bethune with a 1991 Chevy S10

Class 11 Bike Stocks

Nathan Hale with 2006 Harley-Davidson Softtail

Class 12 Custom 

Mike Slusset with a 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

Class 14 Chopper 

Jaime Holzschuh with a 2008 Harley-Davidson Rocket-C

“I think it went really well and definitely want to do next year,” Conin said about the car show. “I was able to get everyone judged and out of there before the rain came.”

The tractor pedal pull was for children 4 to 12 years old, however S & S Pedal Pulling allowed 2 and 3 year-olds a chance to pull before the official pulls began. S & S is sanctioned and winners may continue to state competitions.

Winners of the Pedal Pulls by class included:

Four year-olds:

First Place: Joey Loughridge

Second Place: Roxie Dedual

Five year-olds:

First Place: Ella Homeyer

Second Place: Ruby Vonderhaar

Third Place: Beckham Farrar

Six year-olds:

First Place: Travis Cook

Second Place: Gus Vonderhaar

Third Place: Hunter Boyer

Seven year-olds:

First Place: Starling Hendrix

Second Place: Ava Prater

Eight year-olds:

First Place: Chase Nielsen

Second Place: David Trigo

Third Place: William Vannatta

Nine year-olds:

First Place: Leyton Homeyer

Second Place: Austin Markovic

Third Place: CarterMahaney

No 10 through 12 year-olds participated.

Cronin said she was happy with the overall event.

“I am just happy to finally be able to put something together for the community,” she said. “I am happy we were able to raise money for the park.”

They also raised money for the park with a silent auction. Cronin hopes the activities will create a ripple effect to jump start activities in the town.

“The fourth of July stuff was the last time we had something,” Cronin said. “I am on the park board to get things going again and have more family events.”

 She was happy it was well attended.

“I thought it was a great turnout, and heard nothing but positive comments on the whole thing. I loved it and the kids loved it,” Cronin said.

She hopes that now that people know about the event, there will be even more in attendance next year.