Wellton Hosts 17th Annual Tractor Rodeo Benefiting Local Schools, Communities

Hundreds of locals and winter visitors gathered in Wellton this weekend for the 17th Annual Tractor Rodeo, a two-day community fundraiser that showcased vintage machinery, a tractor pull and a lineup of food and craft vendors. The event, organized by the Southwest Forgotten Iron Edge&TA Branch 206, kicked off Friday and resumed Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. in the area of E. County 12th Street near the Coyote Wash Golf Course, wrapping up Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Organizers said the rodeo blends entertainment with targeted fundraising for the surrounding valley. "All of the proceeds that we get from this event goes back into the communities of Wellton and Roll and the Mohawk Valley area, and that's how it's been since the inception of the event," Bill Lanier Jr., president of the branch, said. Lanier also said Antelope Union High School's FFA and Auto Skills Classes will receive a majority of the proceeds.

The mix of attractions included a tractor pull, displays of restored and modern tractors and engines, a swap meet, live entertainment and a 50/50 raffle. That combination drives revenue through multiple channels - admissions, vendor sales, raffle tickets and parts trade - offering small but measurable injections into the local small-business ecosystem. For Wellton and nearby Mohawk Valley communities, events like this circulate dollars among food vendors, artisans and lodging providers that serve winter visitors, often called snowbirds, boosting off-season activity.

Beyond immediate receipts, proceeds earmarked for Antelope Union High School programs carry longer-term economic implications. Funds flowing into FFA and Auto Skills classes support equipment, training and student activities that feed local labor pools. Investment in hands-on technical education can lower hiring frictions for agricultural firms and small trades businesses in Yuma County, and can be seen as a local response to broader rural workforce concerns.

The rodeo also plays a civic role. Swap meets and tractor displays reinforce local identity around farming and mechanical skills, helping sustain volunteer networks and nonprofit capacity that organize services and events. For residents, that cultural continuity translates into practical benefits - youth programs, community improvements and a modest seasonal lift in commerce.

As organizers tally receipts and distribute funds, participants will watch how the dollars translate into new tools, class supplies and community projects. For Wellton and the Mohawk Valley, the Tractor Rodeo remains a familiar way to pull both engines and community support forward into the year.