Pulling for the prize

Rex Cole of McCook rides the sled as Barney and Jean pull.

Mona and Lisa ... Frank and Jesse ... Butch and Bruno. They're all draft horses or mules who competed in the annual pulling contest at the Red Willow County fair.

Jack and Jim, owned by Lynn Meyers of Maxwell, won first place, pulling 100 percent of their combined weight -- 3,820 pounds.

In second place was Jim Gartrell of Wallace, whose team, Frank and Jesse, pulled 2,700 pounds, 90 percent of their combined weight of 2,920 pounds.

Frank and Jesse, owned by Jim Gartrell of Wallace.

In third place were Mona and Lisa, mules owned by Lee Janssen of McCook, 2,400 pounds or 80 percent of their weight, 2,710 pounds. In fourth were Julie and Mindy, owned by Gayle Kircher of Indianola, 2,900 pounds, or 70 percent of their weight of 4,140 pounds.

Also competing were Brett Gartrell of Dickens, with two- and three-year-old Butch and Bruno, who weighed 2,210 pounds; Rex Cole of McCook, with Barney and Jean, 3,205 pounds; and Ken Kircher of Indianola, with Roxie and Belle, 3,610 pounds

Roxie and Belle pull for Ken Kircher of Indianola