Article written by West News Magazine: 

“Once again Chesterfield won the bragging rights for the much-anticipated tug-of-war contest at the annual Balmar Farms Woodchopper’s Ball in Wildwood on Oct. 22.

The contest is held every year between the two cities. Wildwood was close to winning when a couple of latecomers jumped into the fray and pulled Chesterfield to victory. In addition to bragging rights, the winning city receives a “traveling trophy,” though it is no longer the original hatchet in a log award designed by Bob Clausen. After 18 years, that trophy has stopped traveling to preserve it into perpetuity. 

The annual festival, hosted by Bill Ballard and Stacey and Stuart Morse, was attended by city officials from both cities, including Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation and Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin, along with community friends and family.

Ballard reminisced about how the event got started. A group of neighbors who needed firewood showed up at the property to cut down trees. Afterward, the group all went up to the local gas station and had sandwiches.

“We had a ball,” Ballard said. “The party’s grown quite a bit.”

Other activities at the ball included field games, demonstrations of wood splitting and chainsaw work, and a dessert contest. Musical entertainment was provided by Country Fried Gentlemen, followed by a bonfire.

The event raises funds for BackStoppers Inc., which provides financial assistance to the families of fallen public safety officers. As a fitting reminder of the cause members of the Monarch Fire Protection District displayed fire trucks during a parade around the property.

Ballard noted that he sold land to the fire district 50 years ago to build its current firehouse on Wild Horse Creek Road. The district has since purchased property one-half mile away on that same road to build a new firehouse.”