Two boys aged just 10 and 11 have taken the wheel at the annual tractor pull in Red Cliffs, becoming the youngest competitors at an event that relies on exactly this kind of youthful enthusiasm to survive. Jackson Kovac and Angus McKenzie competed at the Tractor Restoration and Appreciation Club of Sunraysia (TRACS) event on the weekend, each carrying forward a passion passed down directly from their grandfathers.

Each year, tractor enthusiasts gather in the Victorian town of Red Cliffs to put their machines through their paces — pulling a weighted sled along a 100-metre track in a test of power and endurance. The event draws members of TRACS, a club that now boasts 130 members but faces an ageing membership base, with many competitors in their 70s and 80s.

Jackson's Debut and a 30-Year Family Tradition

For 10-year-old Jackson, this year's event marked his first time on the official track — a moment he had been building toward since watching his friend Angus compete the previous year. Jackson has been driving his grandfather's tractor for about two years, practising at home on the family's own sled. At this year's event, he competed behind the wheel of two different tractors.

When asked what he enjoyed most about driving, his response was refreshingly simple: "It's just the joy of driving and it's just fun."

His grandfather, Ross Kovac, has been involved in tractor pulls for roughly 30 years and was behind the wheel of a tractor himself at an even younger age. "I was born and bred on the farm, so I was driving tractors at the age of probably four," he said. Ross recalls competing originally at Coomealla before that club folded, then joining TRACS when it started in the late 1990s. He has been part of the scene ever since.

Watching Jackson compete has been a proud milestone. "I'm very proud. It's great to see them," Ross said.

Angus McKenzie: Six Years Behind the Wheel

Eleven-year-old Angus McKenzie is already a seasoned hand by comparison. With six years of driving experience and two tractor pulls now behind him, Angus developed his love of machinery by spending time in his grandfather Alan McKenzie's shed — helping fix things up and simply tinkering alongside him.

"[I was] just mucking around with my pop in his garage," Angus said. "I got into it, just driving around the garage, helping him out."

Alan McKenzie originally joined a Vintage Machinery Society with his own father before becoming a TRACS member two decades ago. He is now a collector and takes quiet pride in Angus's growing involvement. "I try and take a bit of credit for it," Alan said. "But ever since he was a little fella, he's always been around our shed, playing around with things and trying to fix things up."

Last year, Angus helped his grandfather rebuild the tractor he competed in. He is now working on a couple of his own restoration projects — a significant undertaking for someone not yet in high school.

Why Young Tractor Drivers Are Critical to the Club's Future

The generational enthusiasm shown by Jackson and Angus is more than heartwarming — it is increasingly vital to TRACS's long-term survival. While the club has 130 members, much of that membership is concentrated among older age groups.

Alan McKenzie was candid about the stakes. "It's good to see a few young ones starting to come through the system and get a bit of an interest now, and then hopefully they can carry it on when we fade away," he said.

Ross Kovac echoed the sentiment, saying the club needed to actively encourage more children to get involved so the sport could continue into the future.

For now, the youngest members are learning directly from those who helped build the tradition — and if this year's event is any guide, the Red Cliffs tractor pull is in capable hands.