
Rain the night before. Cloud cover all morning and afternoon. Later, a biting wind that just wouldn’t quit. As I share this story, my fingers are still trying to thaw out. Welcome to a late spring day of truck pulling in the dairy state. Saturday, May 17th, 2025 was like most days in May, it was a constant reminder of how much we can’t wait for summer to fully take. But this event, the WUMPA truck pull in Lena, WI, had a much different feel to it. What that was is something we all strive for, the warmest of friendships on a cold Wisconsin day.

(Pictured L – R is Danny Suennen, Cory Suennen and Mike Verba)
To say this is a tight club is the understatement of 2025 thus far. I rolled onto the grounds in the early afternoon, with many hours to go until pull time. I came upon club reps I haven’t seen in years and this is where things got interesting. A smile, a handshake and a few hugs were handed out early and often. It was a refreshing take to a sport that can often be a solo venture. It was also a reminder that there are others out there, around the state and beyond, who love what I love. They love what you love, the sport of pulling. But like most sports and hobbies, it can go above and beyond that. It’s good people doing things in general that they love and want to share with other good people. Its people getting out of the house, it’s people volunteering and wanting to make things better for someone else, and most of all, its people just wanting to see others and have a good time. We all need more good times, and the men and women of the Wisconsin Upper Michigan Pullers Association reminded me that these opportunities aren’t hard to find.
I had a chance to speak with Bill Griffin (club president), Cory Suennen (vice president), and Mike Verba (club secretary) and the words echoed were anonymous, they love the people they surrounded themselves with. The club, a mere four events in roughly 2017 when Bill took over, was in need of a new direction. Since then, these awesome guys all came together and turned things around in a big way. They now have 12 events on the calendar for 2025 and the outlook is as strong as ever. But was it was it easy? Of course not. Theses guys, along with so many others, put in a lot of hard hours volunteering time to make things happen. The results are finally starting to show and let me tell you this, people are noticing.

(Seen here is Bill and Cory (center) leading the drivers meeting prior to the show.)
Yesterday was one of three events this summer that WUMPA runs from the ground up, meaning they have to find workers willing to volunteer time, they have to prep the track, they have to set up fence and beyond all that, they have to promote the event to pulling fans like us. What should be just fun, easy going and time with friends/family quickly becomes long hours, hard work and very little pay. But would they have it any other way? I think not. Speaking with the three members I mentioned earlier, one thing was noticeable on all their faces… a smile that wouldn’t quit. Its truck pulling season again here in Wisconsin for this club and they couldn’t wait to get back at it. The warmth, the friendships, the family, shined through like the sun on the hottest of Wisconsin’s summer days. It was a reminder that even on a day like this, with so much unknown going into another pulling season, the good times AND good people do still exist.
The sky is the limit for this club and its tremendous members. Keep up the jokes and the laughter. Keep up the great events and warm atmosphere. You guys are doing things the way they should be and that is why pullers, events and fans are gravitating towards your shows. And to all pulling fans, let this be a small reminder that even on the coldest of days in this state, the warmth of a good friendship in pulling is all you need to make it through the night.
Thank you very much to Bill, Cory and Mike for the conversations and interviews (they will be posted soon). These guys are a class act and the professionalism and generosity is second to none. And to all the members, volunteers and staff of WUMPA, thanks for what you do. Its apparent that with this club, the friendships last, the laughs never end and the warmth, its always present (event on a cold Wisconsin spring day).
Want to learn more about the Wisconsin Upper Michigan Pullers Association? Click the links below for more.
WUMPA – Facebook
WUMPA – 2025 Schedule
WUMPA – DPP Website Page