Smashing fun: Farm combines get smashed at fair derby

Jay Hathaway
·2 min read
Two farm combines dance around each other while a third moves in for a collision during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
Two farm combines dance around each other while a third moves in for a collision during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.

The dirt, metal, and concrete barriers were flying on opening day of the 75th annual Monroe County Fair.

A sizable crowd gathered at the Monroe County Fair Grandstand on July 31 to kick off 2022’s festivities lineup, which includes two concerts, a car demolition derby, a monster truck show, and a tractor pull. The combine demolition derby has remained a popular attraction for fairgoers, and it has been placed as both the opening and closing grandstand event in its history at the fair.

A large combine is lined up and ready to go during the demolition derby at the Monroe County Fair grandstand.
A large combine is lined up and ready to go during the demolition derby at the Monroe County Fair grandstand.

The evening started with four heat events. Contestants were separated into two divisions, small and large combines, which had two heats each to determine who would go on to the final two feature events.

Heats included five combines, each equipped with a removable flag above the driver. To kick off the heat, a starter waved a green flag, and drivers could then move from their aligned starting positions and go at it within the area, which was equipped with concrete barriers to narrow the battle zone. Drivers removed their flags if their machines became incapacitated – or if they preferred to avoid further damage.

At the end of all the carnage and chaos, three clear winners emerged from the all the wreckage.

An incapacitated combine is carried out of the arena during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
An incapacitated combine is carried out of the arena during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.

For Best in Show, Tracy Slieff, Jr. from Swartz Creek, Mich. took the top honors with his cow-print-colored combine. The crowd favorite defeated other entrants that included a Michigan State Spartans-themed combine and one that featured Pac-Man and the words “Game Over” painted on the front.

An incapacitated combine is carried out of the arena during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
An incapacitated combine is carried out of the arena during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
Two machines collide during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
Two machines collide during the combine demolition derby event at the 75th Annual Monroe County Fair.
Best in Show winner of the combine demolition derby at the Monroe County Fair, driven by Tracy Slieff, Jr. from Swartz Creek, Mich.
Best in Show winner of the combine demolition derby at the Monroe County Fair, driven by Tracy Slieff, Jr. from Swartz Creek, Mich.

Eric Bastien from Jonesville, Mich. got the win for the small combine division. He defeated a lineup that included Jason Yearling from Bronson, Mich. in second place and Nick Beaudrie from Monroe in third.

For the night’s final feature, the large combine division, first place honors went to Nathan Wickenheiser from Carleton, Mich., who defeated Beaudrie (second place) and Chris Wickenheiser, also from Carleton, in third place.

Each heat winner was awarded a $300 prize, with $200 going to second place. For the features, winner each received $400 and a plaque, while second and third took $200 and $100, respectively. The Best in Show prize was $100 and a trophy.

For daily schedules and more information about this year’s Grandstand events, visit monroecountyfair.com/special-fair-days/daily-schedule.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Farm combines get smashed at Monroe County Fair derby