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40 National Farm Machinery Show and

Championship Tractor Pull Facts 

• The National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) debuted at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in 1966.
• The NFMS was created as an offshoot of the Kentucky State Fair.
• Less than 100 exhibitors were featured at the first NFMS.
• In its first year, the entire show was held in the Pavilion of KEC.
• Today more than 800 exhibitors participate in the NFMS.
• The exhibitors occupy 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibit space.
• Revenue from exhibitor contracts exceeded $2.6 million last year.
• The NFMS is the nation's largest indoor farm show.
• An average of 300,000 people attend the four-day event every year.
• The largest recorded attendance was 312,206 people in 2006.
• 1997 was the first year attendance surpassed 300,000.
• The show produces an estimated economic impact of $21.5 million each year.
• $21.5 million is the highest economic impact figure of any show held at KEC.
• 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Gold Medalist Roulan Gardner made a special guest appearance at the 2001 NFMS.
• Visitors can see everything from irrigation and harvesting equipment, to fertilizers and computer software at the NFMS.
• The Family Living Center, located in the East Hall, features arts and crafts during the show.
• Free seminars are offered each year by Farm Journal, the official communication partner of the NFMS.
• The free NFMS guides are produced and sponsored by Farm Industry News.
• The NFMS is owned and operated by the Kentucky State Fair Board.
• Admission is FREE.
• The Championship Tractor Pull (CTP) was added to the NFMS in 1969.
• Billy Joe Miles, of Owensboro, KY, proposed the idea of a tractor pull at the NFMS.
• Miles is one of six original members of the tractor pulling organization WBHM, whose members are still active on the track during pulls.
• The CTP is the oldest indoor tractor pull in the country.
• The CTP is an invitation-only event.  
• In 2006, 20 states and Canada were represented by the CTP drivers.
• The furthest distance traveled for a CTP contestant in 2008 was approximately 4,200 miles by Luke Keulers from Beek, Netherlands.
• The highest number of competitors at the 2008 pull hail from Indiana (33).
• Indiana is also home to the most CTP Grand Champions (16).
• Drivers compete for a share of over $200,000 in prize money.
• Joe Eder , of North Collins, NY; Jordan Lustik, of Eighty-Four, PA; Bill Voreis, of Argos, IN and Esdon Lehn, of Dayton, MN are the only drivers to win three times in the CTP Finals.

• In 2003, Lisa Tatum, of Bardstown, KY, became the first woman to win in the finals of the CTP.
• The ticket sales to the CTP account for more than $2 million in revenue annually.
• On average, 75,000 tickets are sold for the five pulls annually.
• The Saturday afternoon pull was added in 1980 to offer 4-H and FFA members a better chance to attend a pull.
• Butch Krieger, of Louisville, KY, has been the official announcer for the CTP since 1980.
• Several safety measures have been introduced to the CTP over the years, such as an exhaust system, fireproof suits and racing helmets for the drivers, and seat belts for the sled operators.
• A laser measurement system, developed by Jerry Baird, is used to accurately record the distances pulled.
• The CTP trucks and tractors are on display in Broadbent Arena during the NFMS.
• Syngenta is the official sponsor of the CTP.