Today in Stillman Valley, we celebrated, “Drive your tractor to school day.” I am not sure how the FFA chapter decides when to celebrate this gala event (perhaps the last Friday before the March equinox or something). Nor have I developed a theology of it in light of Palm Sunday. I just know that it’s a big deal.
As the name would imply, tractors are driven to school. At the end of the school day, there is a tractor parade by the elementary school. Jamie said that the elementary children were jumping up and down and cheering with the sort of enthusiasm city people see only at the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade.
Did everyone wear their Carharts as well?
What fun!!!! And from the photos, it looks like it was a beautiful day, too.
In my neck of the woods, it would be “drive your swamp buggy to school day.”
Wyn, honest this is true. Traffic got a little busy – – what with the parade and all – – and I was looking out my study window and there was a farmer in Carhart’s directing traffic. As one tractor went by, I noticed that he slapped it on the tire in the same way a farmer would slap a horse – – and, then I observed that it was a girl driving the tractor.
Chris,
In Brookly we tried to follow in the footsteps of that community spirit of the midwest and had a “Bring your Ride to School Day” Big Mistake!!
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/p1010116ed.jpg
“Nothing runs like a Deere!”
Very nice! I’m sad to say we do not observe this tradition in the greater Keosauqua area. As for the excitement of the elementary children… who doesn’t get excited to see a parade of tractors??? It would be a true parade if they threw candy … just sayin’
Isn’t that the bomb?! I love that the younger generation is proud of their lifestyle on the farm, that it showcases agriculture, and that the community embraces the event. Thanks for highlighting it!