FARMINGTON — Although small in size, the Tot Tamer was a big challenge for young contestants as they pedaled the mini-tractor Wednesday in the Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull at Farmington Fair.

Boys and girls weighing 30 to 60 pounds are eligible to compete, said Skip Forbes of Chesterville, judge, organizer and often encourager for the youngsters.

A good-sized audience cheered on the 10 boys and 12 girls. They were grouped by their weights  of 30 to 40 pounds, 40 to 50 pounds and 50 to 60 pounds.

Sitting on the small pedal tractor furnished by the fair association, children stretched their legs to move it forward. Forbes would add and sometimes remove a small block on the cart. He added a second block for larger youngsters. They are given three tries, sometimes four, to pedal the tractor the longest distance, Forbes said before the contest. Once they start to back pedal, it’s considered another try.

The rules are sometimes stretched, just a little, to accommodate the small youngsters. Leaning down, he encouraged them as they tried to pedal the mini-tractor with a metal drag through the soft dirt.

Forbes has run the contest in the pulling ring for about five years and holds it prior to the night’s horse pull. It’s the time when the animal pullers are having supper, he said.

First, second and third place ribbons are awarded to the boy and girl in each weight category who pedaled the farthest, he said.

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