Craig Schlechty named NTPA Official of the Year

200
Craig (Biggin) Schlechty was named the 2024 National Tractor Pullers Association Official of the Year. (NTPA photo)

DUBLIN – The National Tractor Pullers Association, Inc. held its 53rd National Awards Banquet on December 7th in Dublin, Ohio.

Craig (Biggin) Schlechty was awarded the 2024 NTPA Official of the Year. 

Tech Services confers this award each year upon the individual who stands out by going the extra mile, above and beyond the typical responsibilities of an inspector, flagman, or clerk.

Biggin made himself available not only for his tech duties and dates but also to help fill several personnel voids on Grand National and Regional dates and also to bring his family to help. When he’s called upon, it’s not just him; you get the whole family and half the neighborhood, too.

In the Spring of 2024, Schlechty was called upon to help build and maintain the track for Farley, Iowa. He accepted the challenge, hauled equipment, and again showed up with his whole family and enough extra people for any task.

Schlechty and his family are long-standing members of the Darke County Tractor Pullers Association. They are 10-year-plus promoters of The Great Darke County Fair Tractor Pulls here in Greenville, where Grand National and Regional events are held on two tracks. They have been an integrated part of indoor pulls in Cloverdale, Indiana, and Shipshewana, Indiana.

It’s evident that Biggin has an extreme passion for the sport of tractor-pulling and enjoys being part of the NTPA. It was mentioned he’s just the type of individual who comes to mind for Tech Official of the Year. Tech Services and NTPA also thanked his wife, Jennifer, his brother, Kyle, and his parents, Tony and Marty, for letting him slip away from their large livestock and farming operation to be with them at the Banquet.

In addition, the Darke County Pullers Association was recognized for its hard work and promotion of another great event at the Great Darke County Fair. They were awarded the Commitment to Excellence and Dedication. This one is well into its fifth decade with NTPA. It held its first OSTPA pull in 1982 and joined the national schedule in 2008.

The Darke County Tractor Pullers Association was also awarded the Commitment to Excellence and Dedication, sponsored by Jim Miller and Melissa Graham as a club. (NTPA photo)

Seeing 30 years ago that an all-day event of the envisioned size and scope was more than it could manage, the fair board recruited members and formed a club to organize truck and tractor pulls for its fair.

The event is a testament to how delegating responsibilities to a group of dedicated and cooperative individuals can build not only one pull but also an organization that has unified and inspired two generations of local pulling talent and devotion to their sport. These pulling enthusiasts present events in neighboring counties and in a border state and assist with pulls much further from home. Along the way, they have acquired a reputation as a reliable and organized crew.

After pulling on immaculate twin tracks all day, it’s not unusual for most nighttime winners to be from just down the road in Darke County.