The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) and the Monroe County Agricultural Society will host the 33rd Annual Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull this weekend at Recreation Park.

The event, which is expected to draw 75,000 spectators over three days, will run Friday through Sunday with shows at noon and 6 p.m. each day. Pullers will be competing for a purse of over $200,000 in cash awards.

The show will also feature several special events. A Full Pullers Kids Klub will be open to children ages under 14 and Special Olympics participants at 10 a.m. on Friday. The annual Salute to the Military Night Motorcycle Parade, which will include Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Kelli Trumble, will be held on Friday evening with pre-show activities beginning at 5 p.m. All weekend, the grounds will feature art and craft booths, a flea market, and commercial exhibits.

“There are a lot of things to do on the grounds besides just go to the pull,” Monroe County Agricultural Society General Manager Mary Maas said. “There are flea markets, food, and open pits.”

Among the commercial displays will be “A little better gas station”, presented by BP, which is a mini gas station with luxury bathrooms, a cutaway car, and free giveaways. The Biofutures Access Tour, put on by Midwest Seeds, and Pennzoil’s Platinum Garage will also be featured.

The Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull was named the NTPA Super National Pull of the Year in 2007. Since 1980, Tomah’s tractor pull has received this award 10 times as a Grand National Pull and six times as a Super National Pull.

Maas said that there have been several calls from around the country concerning rumors that the tractor pull has been canceled due to flooding. Maas said that she has received many calls since the storms that brought flooding to parts of Wisconsin two weeks ago, and she has told them all that the tractor pull is still on and the forecast looks good.

“We received a lot of calls about whether or not we were rained out here, and we have told people that most of the rain went south,” Maas said. “It was a common misconception. We are in good shape, and it is looking good for this weekend weatherwise. We have had a lot of calls from Nebraska and Iowa, and a lot of calls about which roads were closed. But we are in good shape, and we are going to pull.”

Some drivers have informed the Monroe County Agricultural Society that they will not be able to participate due to gas prices. Maas said that she knows of two drivers that will not be participating, and both are from New York.

“I know of only two drivers not coming this year,” Maas said. “Most of the big names will still be here.”

The Monroe County Agricultural Society reported in November that ticket prices for the pull will remain the same as 2007 prices. Those prices include $20 per show, $38 for an all-day pass, and $105 for all six sessions of the event. There will also be a new package this year of a campsite and two tickets for $290.

The first session, that will begin on Friday at noon, will feature Light Super Stock, Four Wheel Drive Diesel Truck, Super Semis, and Modified Tractor classes. The session beginning at 6 p.m. will include Four Wheel Drive Truck, Super Stock Diesel, Pro Stock Tractors, and Mini Modified Tractor classes.

Saturday at noon, fans will see Four Wheel Drive Trucks, Super Stock Open Tractors, Modified Tractors and Super Farm Tractors. Saturday night at 6 p.m., Two Wheel Drive Trucks, Unlimited Modified Tractors, Light Super Stock Tractors, and Super Farm Tractors take center stage.

Mini Modified Tractors, Two Wheel Drive Trucks, Pro Stock Tractors, and Super Stock Diesel Tractors are set to compete at noon on Sunday. The final session Sunday at 6 p.m. will feature the Super Stock Open Tractors, Unlimited Modified Tractors, Super Semis, and Super Farm Tractors.