A 9-year-old from Storm Lake is proving that sometimes the smallest competitors make the biggest noise.
Gracelyn Iehl punched her ticket to the National Pedal Pull Championships on Saturday, powering her way to a second‑place finish at the 36th annual Iowa State Pedal Tractor Pull in Burt.
She earned her spot in the 9‑year‑old girls division after three hard‑fought pulls — two full pulls followed by a 35.3‑foot run that secured her runner‑up finish. The event, hosted by the Kossuth County Farm Bureau and the Swea City Betterment Club, brought together top young pullers ages 4 through 12 from across Iowa, all vying for one of four qualifying spots for nationals.
Gracelyn — the daughter of David and Melissa Iehl of Storm Lake — advanced to the state competition after placing second in the 9‑year‑old co‑ed division at the Buena Vista County Fair Pedal Tractor Pull, sponsored by the Buena Vista County Farm Bureau, on July 11.
Pedal pulling has become a summer tradition for the Iehl family, with Gracelyn and her two sisters competing regularly and building a friendly rivalry along the way.
And this isn’t Gracelyn’s first time on the national stage. She first qualified for the National Pedal Pull at age 5 in 2022, finishing eighth overall. She’ll return to the national arena on Sept. 26 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, where hundreds of top pullers from 15 sanctioned states, including Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota, are expected to compete.
The National Pedal Pullers and Racers organization says the sport continues to grow, with more sanctioned events and youth competitors joining each year. For Gracelyn, it’s another chance to represent Storm Lake — and to show that determination, practice and a strong pedal stroke can take you a long way.
