Northern Penobscot Pullers hold first meeting of season

April 14 marked the official beginning of the 2007 season for the Northern Penobscot Pullers’ Association (NPPA).
The general meeting for members was held at the Smoki Haulers’ Snowmobile Club in Oakfield, with approximately 30 members present for a variety of discussions and questions.
    NPPA president, Jere Humphrey, opened the meeting covering minutes from the last gathering and introducing new items, as well as the schedule for the upcoming season.
NPPA is a family-oriented group that strives to have camaraderie and promote fairness to all participants. The members range from grandfathers, uncles, brothers, friends and wives, to sisters and grandmothers. There is no age or gender preference. The aim of the club is to involve everyone and to have a good time.
Club members live from Fort Kent to south of Augusta, along to the east and west of the state. Members are also represented from Rhode Island, Vermont and Quebec.
Humphrey encourages anyone interested in joining the pullers’ association or for anyone who has questions to call him at 768-1667. A person does not have to pull a truck to belong to the pullers’ association, just an interest and enjoyment of the sport.
NPPA is very community-oriented as well. When the family of sisters was killed in an accident in Ashland, the club put on a pull in Ashland and donated the proceeds to the “4 Sisters Fund.” Last summer at the Houlton State Agricultural Fair, they sponsored a memorial pull in memory of Jimmy Westerdahl.
“One of our club’s goals is to give back to the community and leave a positive sense of well being where we pull,” Humphrey said.
At their first meeting, the group discussed how to get members more involved. Many volunteers who help with all of the tasks involved in putting on the pulls were recognized. From the people who run the scales to the registration workers, announcers and clean up crews, who see the grounds are left in as good or better shape than when the pullers arrived.
It was discussed that this year, the pulls would be run in a more timely fashion, and not be dragged out as in the past. This is a project to be worked on, as there are many aspects to putting on a pull for the crowd’s enjoyment.
The first event for the NPPA is the Motor Sports Show on May 18-20 at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle. Several pullers will have their vehicles all polished up and on display for those interested in having a closer look.
Unfortunately, the pullers will not be part of the Houlton State Agricultural Fair in July. But, contact a member if anyone is interested in being able to see one in Houlton next year.
On May 26-27, there will be a work party at the Ashland track to prepare for the first pull of the season.
Tentative pullers’ schedule:
June 2    at Ashland Park    1 p.m.
June 16    at Presque Isle    6 p.m.
July 7    at Presque Isle    6 p.m.
July 28    at Springfield    3 p.m.
July 29    at Presque Isle (tractors) TBA
August 4    Presque Isle (pickups)    4 p.m.
August 11    at Skowhegan    4:30 p.m.
August 18    at Skowhegan    6 p.m.
August 25    at Dover Foxcroft        2 p.m.
September 1    at Springfield    3 p.m.
September 6    at Clinton    7 p.m.
September 8    at Clinton    1 p.m.
September 21    at Farmington    6 p.m.
September 29    at Ashland    2 p.m.
October 7    at Fryeburg    5 p.m. (pending)
To learn more about the NPPA and its activities, visit their Web site at Penobscotpullers.com.