Story submitted by Joanna Baatz
This past weekend The Country Apple Orchard in Harrisburg, SD hosted the 2nd annual ‘Fittest on the Farm’ strongman competition with all proceeds going to Make-a-Wish South Dakota. The competition had four divisions which were based on individuals’ experience with powerlifting; Female Farmers, Female Ranch Hands, Male Farmers, and Male Ranch Hands. The competitors took part in five different events where each were scored based on times, number of reps, or distance. At the end of the five events, the top 3 individuals with the combined highest scores were awarded medals and prizes from the sponsors. Siri Wollmann (25) and Tanner Baatz (16) both of Garretson competed and placed in the competition.
Bryce Wollmann, a 2015 graduate of Garretson, has been into powerlifting for many years and even converted his two car garage into a personal gym back in 2021. Bryce had initially signed up to compete and talked Siri and Tanner into joining him. Unfortunately due to an illness, Bryce was not able to compete, but was there to coach and cheer Siri and Tanner on. Siri was put in the Female Ranch Hand division with 3 other females and Tanner was put in the Male Ranch Hand division with six other males.
The first event was the Tractor Pull. The females were challenged with pulling an approximately 1000 pound tractor in neutral 50 feet within a one minute time period or as far as they could if not the 50 feet. Siri came in third place in that event pulling the tractor the full 50 feet in just 24 seconds. The Male Ranch Hand division had the same requirements but the tractor was put into first gear for an additional challenge. Tanner came in first place in that event pulling the tractor 30 feet 6 inches in the 1 minute time period.
The second event was the Sledgehammer Hold. Each division had an 8 pound sledge hammer that they were to hold straight out in front of them for as long as possible with their backs flat against a railing. In the Female Ranch Hand division, Siri kept the sledge hammer up for 1:57 tying for second place. Tanner ended up with a first place keeping his cool and sledge hammer elevated for 3:27.
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