Old Iron Rolls On

Jul 17, 2012

Nostalgia: Harmless Enough

The Tri-State Old Iron Association's sixth annual tractor parade was held July 12-14, under the sponsorship of "Your Big Friend" WNAX Radio, a farm station that was broadcasting farm markets before the M Farmall was created. Yankton's Paddlewheel Park was home base for the 180 tractor owners. Photos by Bernie Hunhoff.

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Tractors and drivers came from all surrounding states, and one fellow hauled his tractor from New York.
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The old iron paraded through downtown Yankton on Friday night, July 13.
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The Friday excursion was a roundtrip to Viborg, with a stop at St. Columba Catholic Church near Mayfield for lunch.
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On Saturday, the tractors paraded to Bloomfield.
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Both day trips logged about 72 miles in sweltering heat, but most of the tractors had umbrellas.
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Hamlin Garland, a pioneer writer, recognized the American farmer's penchant for nostalgia. He once wrote, "I guess at this distance, it (nostalgia) is safe enough."
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Road gear for the slowest tractor was about 12 to 15 mph.
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WNAX Radio staffers have helped the Tri-State Iron Association organize and conduct the massive summer gathering.
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The downtown Yankton parade has become a popular summer event for Yanktonians, many of whom can't tell a John Deere from an Oliver.
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Comments

07:10 am - Mon, July 23 2012

Heidi said:

The bright red and green restored tractors are gorgeous, but I tend to favor the original, dirty and dented tractors... they look like they're still working out on the farm. That's the way tractors are supposed to be!