ANSONIA — The Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League annual banquet, held in downtown Indianapolis the weekend of October 29-30, saw a local family honored.
The Ohio State Benefit Pull was awarded the prestigious title of Lucas Oil PPL “Pull of the Year.” Present at the banquet to accept the award was Ron Barga II, his wife Jessica, Ron’s brother Darrick Barga, and his wife Rachel.
Ron and Doris Barga, of Ansonia, Ohio, along with their children, spouses, and grandchildren have been promoting the JDRF Juvenile Diabeters benefit pull for the past nine years. Four grandchildren in the Barga family were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as toddlers — today they range in age from 6 to 21 years old. To date, the benefit tractor pull has donated $66,000 to JDRF of Greater Dayton and plans to continue its partnership with them.
Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League has quickly become the premiere truck and tractor pulling organization and the PPL Champions Tour series can be seen weekly on MAVtv Sundays at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
There were 34 PPL Champions Tour series events in 2016 and one particular event is located in Darke County. The Ohio State Benefit Pull has been hosting truck and tractor pulling on the third weekend of June since 2008. The event recently moved back to Darke County Steam Threshers grounds at York Woods for 2016.
The 2016 event was, according to Ron Barga II, “a huge success, blessed with a beautiful weekend of weather.” Fifty-four PPL champions tour competitors in four classes (Super Mods, Unlimited Supers, Mini Rods, and Super Farms) competed for the win.
“The attendance was awesome and so was the show, many competitors stated this was the best track they had ever seen, a huge compliment,” said Barga.
“We are so honored to be receiving this award, there is so much hard work that goes into an event like this, thank you competitors and PPL and a huge thanks to our local sponsors and fans,” he added.
The Barga family is so grateful for the 25 volunteers who donate their time and energy as well as the following sponsors: Greenville National Bank; Channel Seed; C&C Carriers; Anderson’s Grain; Pohl Transportation; Mote Farm Service; Rowland Truck & Equipment; Ag Protect 1; North Star Plumbing; PSG; Ohio Crankshaft; Lyme Farms; Veterinary Poultry Supply; Wayne Oil; CropStar Consulting; Beck’s Seeds; Eldora Speedway; Ansonia Lumber; Weaver Bros.; Diversified Ins; Menke Consulting; RB Cox Ins; North Star Hardware/Implement; Cooper Farms; Meat Shop; Ansonia Auto Parts; Edwin Nickol; J&M Manufacturing; Spencer Landscaping; JL Spencer Trucking; and Otte Ag.
