Four children line up to have their parents take their photo. They will soon watch a tractor race in their neighborhood in which their elders participate. Years later, when those same children have grown up, they will line up for another photo; the memories of the race will keep them coming back after they have moved away.

This photograph, as described by Cindy Berry, has become her favorite memory from the race. She enjoys seeing all of her neighbors sharing hot drinks and doughnut holes and catching up as the tractors come and go.

The annual Thanksgiving tractor race returns as competitors rally at the start line.

Every year at Ranchwood Road the Sanislos conduct their Thanksgiving tractor race. Competitors and viewers alike, anticipating the race, show up at 9:00 am. At the race there is everything from old 1950s tractors to brand new ones. The participants range in age anywhere from grandchildren to grandparents, and they return year after year to visit with their neighbors. Tractor race organizer Kevin Sanislo explained the origin of the race.

“It has been a tradition in our neighborhood for about forty years. The folks that originated it moved away, so we have been conducting it from our home for about thirty years,” Sanislo said.

As part of the tradition, the Sanislos give the winner a trophy and disqualify some of the racers for non-serious reasons. Some of the funny disqualifications from this year and years past include: racing a tractor that did not have a lawn mower attached, racing a tractor with an exhaust that was too loud, racing a tractor that pulled a rusty trailer and racing with a goofy hat on. To even out the level of competition, Sanislo explained the method that he has developed.

“We stagger the start, which ultimately handicaps the start so that slower tractors aren’t penalized for being slower; that way it sort of evens things out. The rule [preventing] ‘sandbagging’ is that you can’t finish more than ten seconds faster than your time trial run, otherwise you are disqualified. So theoretically, everyone should finish the race at about the same time. That usually happens– there are usually about twenty tractors per year and probably fourteen out of twenty finish within ten seconds of each other,” Sanislo said.

Ultimately, the tractor race winds down to not the funny accusations or even the race, but the gathering and socializing of a neighborhood. Nicole Heckman, a participant of the tractor race for the last eighteen years and a two year grand champion, shares her favorite part of the race.

“[Seeing] all of the neighborhood friends– it seems like every year someone graduates, gets married or starts their career. It’s also a great time to welcome new families into the neighborhood,” Heckman said.

The memories from the race will stay with competitors and observers for years to come as the race provides a unique experience for everyone involved.