It’s all about giving back to the troops.

That will be the message Saturday during the first-ever Vintage Pride snowmobile show, drag race and swap meet at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

The event, which is the brainchild of the Sheer Determination snowmobile racing group, will go from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is designed to raise money to send care packages to soldiers from the region.

“We’ll go as far as the dollars will allow us to reach,” said organizer Kevin Weitzel.

Weitzel said the Sheer Determination team, which is made up of a group of snowmobile enthusiasts from Albert Lea and the surrounding area, decided to take on the event partly to revitalize snowmobile swap meets and drag races. However, because the members of the team are either involved in the military, have previously been involved or know someone who is, they decided to center it around giving back to the troops.

“Since we aren’t over there serving, we want to do our part here,” he said.

Admission will be $5 per person, with members of the military getting in free. The swap meet will be $20 per site, and the drag racing will be $10 per sled. Trophies will be awarded for both the show and the racing.

In addition, there will be a silent auction and raffle.

Food and beverages will be provided by Aragon Bar, Taco King, American Legion and Merrill’s Popcorn.

The Minnesota National Guard’s recruiting command will be on hand with an obstacle course and rock-climbing wall, Weitzel said.

World champion snowmobile racer Mike Decker of Team Deckers and 2008 Eagle River champion Fred Smith will be in attendance, along with Albert Lea High School graduates Tim and Dan Wulff — who are also part of the Sheer Determination team but who no longer live in Albert Lea.

Tim Wulff, a 1980 ALHS graduate who lettered in football, basketball and baseball, just completed a year in Afghanistan and recently achieved the rank of colonel.

Dan Wulff, a 1982 ALHS graduate, who also served in the military, received a brain injury in 2005 when he was the commander of the Minneapolis Police Bomb Squad.

He said while the injury ended his career and many of his snowmobiling activities, he still works on snowmobiles and then his close friends drive them.

He wants to remind people that they are able to take part in their hobbies because of the men and women who preserve their freedoms.

“Never forget the sacrifice that these men and women are doing for our nation,” he said. “We honor the soldiers and anybody serving — policemen, firemen too.”

The families of the soldiers also need to be recognized, too, he said.