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Trent, the son of Kevin and Joan Blonigen, recorded his highest place at nationals this year in the nine-year-old division at nationals in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 20. He placed sixth last year as an eight-year-old and in 2000 as a six-year-old.

To qualify for nationals, Blonigen started at local competitions. He and his family, including his younger brother Travis and his aunt and uncle and three cousins, attended about six local pedal tractor pull competitions, with Trent taking first place in his age group at each one. His first-place finishes include one at Town and Country Days, where the Paynesville Community Club annually hosts the pedal tractor pull.

Trent Blonigen - a third grader at Paynesville Area Elementary School - recently took third at the National Pedal Tractor Pull. He had placed sixth twice previously.

Then, in September, Trent took first place at the state competition in Hutchinson. It was his second state title in a row. He also finished second in 2000 (when he also qualified for nationals) and third in 2001 (when he just missed a trip to nationals).

By winning the national tractor pull, Blonigen has qualified for the International Pedal Tractor Pull, which will be held in Winnipeg in August 2004.

Trent started attending pedal tractor pulls when he was six. (He could have started when he was four.) Now he only has two years left, since the oldest age group is 11.

He likes "getting first" and "beating the other guys," he said.

He also likes to ride bike (including at the city's new BMX track), to play football and baseball, to jump on his family's trampoline, and to play outside.