The pull is divided into age groups. All children must have an adult present, to sign any necessary paperwork for advancement. This event at the Interstate Fair and Rodeo is a free event, not requiring any entry fee to participate. All pullers must have shoes/boots to pull, and no flip-flops or bare feet will be allowed. All pullers will also pull from the same pedal tractor, unless unforeseen mechanical problems develop, of which a determination from officials will be made on to re-pull the age group, or continue. All pullers will use a pedal tractor supplied by the event sponsors.

Each tractor is attached to a sled that incorporates a sliding bucket filled with weight. As the puller pedals down the track, the weighted bucket moves toward the front of the sled, causing the tractor to become more difficult to pedal. When the sled bucket reaches the top of its rails, the pull is considered a “full pull” or successful. In the event the puller stops forward momentum, before a full pull is achieved, the pull is considered over, and the length from the starting point to the ending point is recorded. If more than one full pull is achieved for an age group, additional weight is added to the bucket, and those pullers will have a “pull-off”. Additional weight will continue to be added until a single full pull is achieved, or all pullers attempted without success. The puller with the longest achieved distance will be declared the winner for that age group.