Meeting the King (and Prince) of Smoke.
Meeting the King (and Prince) of Smoke.
I met Esdon Lehn for the first time in my pulling broadcasting career just a few weeks ago at The Pullers Championship. For pulling fans, he’s a man you feel like you already know, regardless of your introduction status. He’s among the winningest competitors of all time. He has been competing for nearly 50 years. His tractor is iconic. His legacy is unbreakable. The circumstances of our meeting was the fruition of an intriguing brainstorm and a fun interview assignment: bring all the Esdons under one spotlight. Put them on a single stage. Tell their story. For, at this pull we had competing, himself, Esdon Lehn, as well as two rising stars in the sport who owe their namesake to the King of Smoke: Esdeon Lemke and Esdon Bartling. Unfortunately Esdon, Lemke had left the track for prior obligations, but Esdon Bartling more than readily agreed to the interview. In all honesty, that was an understatement. He informed our broadcast team that Esdon Lehn was his childhood hero, and it would be an honor to interact with him. I thought we were going to have to strap his boots to the ground to keep him from sprinting straight to the Red Line Fever trailer. One interviewee secured. Off to talk to Mr. Lehn.
I quickly learned the champion from Dayton, Minnesota was a jovial character, quick with hugs, handshakes, and practical jokes. We brought him up to speed on our endeavors, wherein he not only readily agreed, but produced the penultimate surprise. The pulling gods were smiling on us this day. You see, as fate would have it, Esdon Bartling, in order to fulfill a grade school assignment, had written a letter to Esdon Lehn over 12 years prior. The assignment said it all: write a letter to your hero. Esdon Lehn not only kept the letter all these years, but brought it with him to this exact pull on the off chance he and Esdon Bartling would cross paths. The stars were aligning perfectly. We arranged the two men of the same name in front of the famous diesel super stock and commenced the interview. Naturally Mr. Bartling walked us through his fandom of the iconic tractor and driver. Mr. Lehn told stories of how he was the only “Esdon” he knew of for years, but there are now over twenty young men in the country bearing the name. To have pullers directly christened in his homage was the ultimate honor.
Esdon Bartling chuckled as it was revealed that a nickname had fallen to him, much the way the King of Smoke has become Esdon Lehn’s unofficial title. The Prince of Smoke has naturally made its way to Esdon Bartling. A fitting title for a man, who had just won his hometown pull, less than twenty four hours prior. In the midst of the interview we surprised Esdon Bartling with his handwritten letter from his days as an elementary student. The goosebumps on all three of our arms were very real. It was at this moment that I noticed a crowd had begun to gather around the tractor. This was something bigger than distances and trophies. This was the world and community of pulling at its absolute best. This was our King, literally with those bearing his name taking up his mantle, and carrying the sport forward, living his legacy in real time. A young boy lined up in the front of the crowds, looking for an autograph, reminding us all that pulling is about family and the impressions that can be made on the youth.
We concluded things with Esdon Lehn signing and relinquishing the letter to its original author. The King and Prince of Smoke posed for photos. I watched a man live his childhood dream. I watched a legend continue to live out his legacy- a legacy that extends far, far beyond the track. A legacy that will literally live on in the names of pullers for the next generations.
Pullin’ is Fun
Green Flags and Tight Chains
Mike Eitel
Beer Money Pulling Team
Engagement Specialist
michael.eitel.bevier@gmail.com
660.342.0206
