BIG ISLAND, Nebraska — At the Nebraska State Fair, horsepower is replaced by child power in a tractor pulling competition where youngsters pull the load.

According to the organizers, you won’t see a bigger pedal stroke than this in the country.

John Vossler is the president of the state association. He said, “I would be very surprised. I think we’re going to make the Guinness Book of World Records and document the largest pedal pull in the world.”

The grandstands filled with one of the largest crowds at the Nebraska State Fair, as children ages 4 to 12 operated the pedal tractors that hauled the cargo.

“Pull on the wheel and push hard,” said Kelsey Busch of Burwell, who won the 10-year-old age group.

Vossler said trampling is open to all children and gives children the opportunity to qualify to compete at the state fair or at county fairs and festivities in their hometowns.

“You don’t have to have a $10,000 bull to show at the state fair. You just need a strong pair of legs, you know. You can come out and represent your county,” he said.

The girls start, followed by the boys. There are multiple lanes set up in the Heartland Events Center, which run simultaneously.

“They say we bring in more people here than many concerts. I’m not going to argue with them,” Vossler said.

Although no official attendance figures were kept, most seats in the 6,000-seat arena were filled.

In each age group, volunteers work together to keep the children in line and keep score.

“I only pick the best,” said Vossler, who calls his team the “A-team.”

“I took first place last year,” said Kelsey Busch, who explained that she has been to the national championships every year since she was 4. She once again earned a trip to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD to compete to retain her national title.