The second annual Mexico FFA Truck and Tractor Pull is right around the corner.

Mexico FFA will host its Truck and Tractor Pull fundraiser Saturday at the 4-H Center track. Gates open at 10 a.m., the test and tune will be 1-5 p.m., and the first hooks will start at 7 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Mexico Young Farmers, who are heavily involved in the event’s organization. Kyle Roth, chairman of the Young Farmers Truck and Tractor Pull, has taken the lead on preparations, and he said this year's event will feature some new competition.

“MMTTPA is our main puller association that we had — we had them last year,” Roth said. “This year we decided to expand out to MSTPA for some extra classes, some stuff people haven't seen before, just trying to draw a bigger crowd and more competitors.”

MMTTPA classes include 2.6 and 3.0 diesel trucks, two-wheel-drive trucks, 6200 Pro Street Trucks, 6200 Pro Stock Trucks, 6000 and 9500 Pro Field Tractors, 8500 and 9500 Limited Pro Stock, 11,000 Farm Stock, 6500 Limited Super Stock and Open (Mini Rods).

MSTPA classes include 10500 Hot Stock Tractors, 6500 LLSS Tractors, 9000 Pro Field Tractors and 6000 Modified Tractors.

Roth said track conditions are currently muddy thanks to all the rain over the last few weeks, which is a good sign. He is optimistic there will be a lot of moisture on the track this weekend.

The Mexico FFA Truck and Tractor Pull will be the first pull of the year, so Roth expects competitors and their loyal fans to come from all over Missouri, as well as Illinois, Kansas and Iowa.

Roth said the Mexico Young Farmers and FFA learned a lot from last year’s pull.

“They’re a lot more prepared this year,” he said. “We have a lot of FFA kids who want to volunteer because they think it's a good thing for them to support and help with, so I expect a lot of help from the kids.”

A truck and tractor pull is a significant investment. Roth said the FFA’s pull costs approximately $25,000 and could not be accomplished without the community’s support.

“We can’t thank our community enough for all the donations,” Roth said. “The ag community really supports everybody very well in Mexico. We’re lucky to have what we have.”

Roth added that support for this pull isn’t limited to Mexico, with sponsors from Centralia, Vandalia, Fulton and Paris.

As expected, the Mexico FFA Truck and Tractor Pull experienced some growing pains last year, particularly when it came to the food stand, which Roth said was thrown together last minute.

But this year they are ready. The Mexico FFA, Missouri Pork Producers and Mexico Jaycees will be serving up pork loin, pork burgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork nachos and pulled pork sandwiches.

Tickets are $20 per person at the gate and children younger than 12 years old get in free.