The Green County Fall Nationals Truck and Tractor Pull will pull for the community on September 25, 2021, during its 15th annual event. Organizer Mark Hawthorn, of Monticello, founded GCFN as a way to combine his passion of tractor pulling with an opportunity to give back to Green County residents who suffered financial hardship through illness or tragedy. As well, GCFN has provided larger contributions to several Green County organizations and scholarships to graduating students in each of the school districts of the county. In all, nearly $450,000 has been donated to the Green County communities. This year, the Fall Nationals donated six AEDs to several police stations and schools and will continue fundraising efforts through can coozie sales at the pull to continue raising money for additional AEDs. GCFN will match all donations raised on September 25.

The Green County Truck and Tractor pull will be held on Saturday, September 25, at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe, WI. The event starts at 12:00 p.m. and will run until approximately 7:00 p.m., followed by local band Road Trip playing 8:00 p.m.-Midnight. Tickets are available for $15 prior to the event at several location establishments (found on the greencountyfallnationals.com website). This includes admission to the pull and to the band. Tickets purchased at the gate on the day of the pull are $15. Band admission is $5. Kids under 12 are free. Parking (other than pit parking) is free for spectators.

A special American flag presentation will occur, weather permitting, at 11:45 a.m., as two sky divers will bring in the American Flag from the sky.

About the Jump

The airplane used is a specially modified Cessna C182. The jumpers will exit at approximately 4,000 feet. When they arrive at the pre-designated “spot”, the jumpers will dive out of the “perfectly good airplane”. After a short “freefall”, during which they will reach speeds of about 120 MPH, they will deploy their parachutes. The flight under the rectangular “ram air” parachute will last about 3 minutes. As the jumpers get close to the ground, they slow their parachutes for a gentle touch down on the target.

About the Flag

The United States Flag being flown by one of the jumpers has a history of its own. The flag’s first public appearance was in the aftermath of 9/11. It was displayed on the side of a building facing a major runway at Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.

Later, the flag was hand carried to Iraq by US Army Specialist Joshua Dawson to fly over Forward Operating Base “Gabe”. After receiving the Purple Heart for wounds inflicted by a suicide car bomber, Specialist Dawson returned to the states with this flag.

Since then, the flag has proudly flown in honor of those who have served and those who are still serving their country.