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Caroline
Singer has been a fixture for over 30 years at the Great Darke
County Fair and the Darke County Tractor
Pullers Association. At the
age of 95, Singer still loves pulling. CNO photo by George Starks
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Caroline
Singer: The first lady of tractor pulling
She’s 95 and still on the scene
By George Starks
Greenville- At the age of 95, Caroline Singer has been a significant
part of the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association.
For many years, Singer was a big part of the group of ladies that fed
the pullers at the fair. Now, Singer enjoys the action, despite be
handicapped. Back in the day, Singer helped run the pulls held in
Palestine.
In those days, tractor pulling was relegated to one thing…Tractors.
“I remember those days when the pulls were in Palestine and there were
no such things at these soaped up trucks and tractors,” Singer said.
“The weight in the sleds was provided by concrete blocks. If we needed
more weight, we put people on the sled to provide the extra weight. My
boys, Joe and Dave, were two of the people that helped provide the
extra weight. So my boys were a big part of tractor pulling at a very
young age.”
This year, the DCTPA celebrated 34 years at the fair and Caroline has
been there every step of the way.
“As a family, we got involved right away in Palestine,” Singer stated.
“When we came here it was an experience for us. We only pulled one day
of the fair, then we had two sessions and my boys were involved. There
was always something going on in Palestine and we were there to help
run things. We were involved in the Word Plowing matches. My boys both
plowed and Dave won the county and the state the first year he plowed.
The wouldn’t let him plow in the Nationals because he wasn’t old
enough. I think he was 10 years old at the time but that was where it
all started for us. ”
A the years rolled along, Singer watched the age of tractors that were
modified to trucks and even tractors that had jet engines in them.
With Joe and Dave being the ones that has provided the sled for many
years (Palestine Dyno), Singer was still a big part of a much needed
job duty.
She was a part of the group that cooked the food that fed all the
workers and there were more people that were involved than many could
even imagine.
“I really don’t know how many guys we were cooking for but every
year we butchered a hog and had pulled pork,” said Singer. “It took 20
gallons of baked beans, potato salad and a lot of pies and cakes. There
was a lot of work involved to feed a crew of that size.”
After more than 34 years of tractor pulling, Singer sais what it was
that kept her coming back.
“I’m a farm person,” said Singer. “I’ve seen a lot of changes over the
years but it’s still about the tractors. I’m not a big fan of all these
changes and I still like the smaller tractors. They antiques are still
my favorites. Joe says watching the antiques is like watching paint dry
but that’s what I watched in the beginning and I’ve always enjoyed
them.”
With pulls in Lynn and Brookville, Indiana, Singer says she still goes
to Palestine pulls but can no longer make the trips to the other pulls.
“I can’t do the pulls in Lynn because there is too much walking for me
but I still love the pulls, Singer said in conclusion.”
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Over
the years, tractor pulling has come a long way but Singer still loves
the antiques.
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