The "Pulling for Kids" event drew numerous entries to the track and large crowds to the grandstand. As has been the case for the past decade, gate receipts and concession stand proceeds benefit the Mayfield and Graves County school districts' family resource centers, the Graves County youth services centers, and their Community Christmas Connection. That project helps families in need to celebrate Christmas through a program that combines educational opportunities concerning parenting and money management.
Friends Larry Wooley, Kenny Wiggins, Kenneth Wiggins, and Ricky Wilson comprise the sponsoring organization informally known as the Graves County Pullers. After the first event unexpectedly made a profit, the four decided to seek a charity to benefit from future events. They realized each of the friends had at least one family member working for the Graves County Schools. So, they chose the district as a beneficiary. They didn't want to leave Mayfield out simply because it has a its own school district, so it was added as a recipient.
"That's when we got the schools' family resource and youth services centers involved so we could help kids in need," Wooley said a few days before the event. "All the money goes to their Community Christmas Connection. The more the parents are involved in learning about being a parent through these centers, the more points the parents get to pick out things they can buy with this money for their kids at Christmas. The only thing we told these resource center directors is to use the money to help the kids in need in Mayfield and Graves County. We didn't want this money to go to kids who could afford a lot of things, we wanted it to go to kids who need something to eat. The way we do with the money is to divide between the schools in the city and the county."
The event has drawn statewide recognition. The Mayfield-Graves County Truck Pullers Association was honored in 2017 at the annual Fall Institute conference in Lexington of the Kentucky public schools' Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.
