2021 Tractor Parade
The day began with everyone coming to Old Highway 6 Tractor and Equipment, now Lang Diesel Old 6, beginning at 7:45 AM. The tractors were all unloaded via trailer ramps and the loading dock. People then stood around and visited for a while, and then came into the building to register, paying their entry fee of $25, and collecting their meal tickets. The riders and spectators then enjoyed some coffee, rolls, and water provided by Old Highway 6 Tractor and Equipment.
In years past, almost the entire time of registration, I am usually sitting at the registration table, visiting with everyone who walks in, shaking hands and thanking them for being there. This year, however, I was so honored to have WOWT, our local NBC news station, out at the sight covering the ride. During the registration time, I went out and stood next to my Oliver 770 diesel, my pride and joy, while they interviewed me. The lady who came out did an absolutely, fantastic job of covering the ride and presenting it to the public, but also helping to raise awareness that visually impaired people are entirely capable of pursuing their dreams! They also interviewed Bruce Bracker and Mel Hursey as well!
About 8:55 AM, I switched on a microphone, and like years past, welcomed everyone to the fourth annual Ride into Sight Tractor Ride! I visited with everyone about the history of the ride, and thanked people for being there! After doing so, I then proceeded to recognize our four newest angel riders, (people who have gone before us and who supported the ride in some way) Dean Hansen, my great uncle Harry Swanda, Maynard Hansen, and Dean Eitmann. I took some time to share a special memory of how I remembered each one, and then observed a moment of silence for all of them.
After the angel riders were recognized, it was a great honor to hand the microphone off to my loyal friend and great advocate for the visually impaired, Mark Bulger, (president of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska), to give an invocation. Not only did Mark say a wonderful prayer, but he also went the extra mile and told everyone about what doing this ride means to him! When he was finished, I recognized all the veterans of whom had served our country in the past. Several people raised their hands, and the rest of us all clapped and cheered, and I enjoyed the opportunity to thank them for their wonderful service to our nation!
After I thanked the vets, I had the opportunity to thank all the sponsors who donated to the ride, and also the tractor ride committee who helped with the planning by giving me suggestions and ideas of ways that I can continue to make the ride a success! When I do this normally, I then talk about the route. This year, however, I did not mention anything about where we would be traveling. I just used a little sense of humor and said, “As far as the route today, well… just follow the “blind boy” and if we get lost, then you only have “the blind boy” to blame!” Everybody laughed. Mel Hursey then lead the Pledge of Allegiance just like in years past. When he was done, I said, “Let’s load them up and get out of here!” The ride departed about 9:15 AM.
When all the tractors were running, I put the tractor in gear, and with our family friend, Bennett, serving as my co-pilot again this year, I let the clutch out and the Ride into Sight Tractor Ride was on the move! We first headed out from Old Highway 6 Tractor and Equipment, and onto McPherson Ave. We headed west until we arrived at Richfield Loop. Since this was a popular spot from last year, I decided to lead everyone through there again this year. People were outside waving to us, and the riders who had horns on their tractors honked at everyone! Everyone who was outside watching loved it! After we went through the neighborhood, I turned left and lead everyone out and back onto McPherson Ave. I then proceeded to lead everyone to our first stop, Bomgaars in Council Bluffs.
About five miles from Bomgaars, terrible lightning and thunder began to fill the sky. It began to rain gently, and the ground became wet. I visited with Bennett, my co-pilot, and said, “We have to get to Bomgaars!” We made it to Bomgaars a little after 10:30 AM, and just as we all got under cover near the building, a gentle downpour began, and thunder and lightning grew a little more severe. While the riders enjoyed some cookies and water during what we usually call the first break, (I think I have to call it “time in shelter” this year), some of the committee members were talking and explaining to me that they thought we should shorten the ride. I was determined not to do that. A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits, you know. Near the building, they had a pallet full of water softener salt bags. I went over, sat down on the water softener salt bags, put my hands together and said, “Lord, if this tractor ride is supposed to happen, please let it happen and make this rain and lightning pass. If it isn’t supposed to happen, send me a sign, shut it down and let it rain. Amen.” In about 15 minutes, the sky lightened up, the rain and lightning stopped, and the sun came out. We were back on the road in no time! As all the tractors pulled out and crossed the intersection, crossing over to Highway 191, I lead everybody towards our next stop, the Dew Drop in McClelland.
After winding through the countryside for another hour or so, we took L52 directly into McClelland, and pulled up near the Dew Drop. The Dew Drop is a little family-owned bar, and probably makes up about 75% of McClelland’s economy. When I walked in, I was greeted by Keith, the owner there. He shook my hand, asked about the ride, and told me how he was going to feed everybody very efficiently. We had hamburgers, chips, and baked beans on the menu, with lemonade and water to drink. From my personal point of view, I think it was the best lunch that we have ever had at Ride into Sight! If people had to wait to be fed, they weren’t waiting very long at all! What made it even more enjoyable was that Keith was all about raising money for the research that day too!
About an hour into the lunch time, I switched on a microphone and thanked everyone, yet again, for being there, and Keith and his crew for such an amazing lunch! Everybody clapped and cheered for him. I also gave an update about the research that day. I was happy to report that they have resumed their research, now that a Covid-19 vaccine is available. As of July, stem cell injections are beginning there now. They are still working on crossing the blood-brain barrier when implanting a new eye, grown for oneself from a skin biopsy taken from one’s arm. Lastly, they have also formed a new division of the retinal research with a group of people of whom are working on a device of which could make people see who have no nerves in their eye sockets at all! All of these are exciting news for me, and for many other visually impaired people as well! I look forward to more progress, and I think that we can all agree that, while the pandemic may have halted research for a short time, it is beginning to move extremely fast now! Stay tuned!
After giving my update, I asked the question that brings me so much joy each year. “Ok now, friends! I am visually impaired, and I can’t see hands. So please show me with applause, how many of you in this room think that we should do the ride again next year?” Everyone clapped and cheered with all kinds of excitement! So, August 6, 2022 is the big day! I then chatted with everyone about the afternoon route. I explained that our first stop would be to Ditmars Orchard for a snack, and then, back by popular demand from last year, the QCS, (Quick Cookie Stop), would take place after that! Everybody cheered! On that note, “load them up!”
When everybody was sitting in the seat on their tractor, I put the tractor in road gear, and lead everyone out onto McClelland Avenue. Before long, (maybe 30 minutes), we turned onto 225th Street and headed on up to Ditmars Orchard, pulling in and lining up. Before I went into the building, Ashley, the lady that runs the orchard, interviewed me briefly for their Facebook page. Everyone else walked into the building, purchased and enjoyed all kinds of goodies. The ride left about 15 minutes later.
I lead the ride, yet again out of the orchard and to our final stop for the day, Mount Hope Church. This, back by popular demand, was where we would have our QCS, (quick cookie stop). When we got to the church, we pulled in, and everybody stayed on the tractors. My mother, Kim, and a few other members of the tractor ride committee, worked diligently and efficiently to ensure everybody received a cookie, and a bottle of water if they wanted one. It was really a happy time!
One of the greatest joys about this ride for me each year is watching how more and more of my family attend and get involved, year after year. This year, my Uncle Kirk and Aunt Jean came all the way from Georgia to watch and participate. My Great Aunt Gayle came from Springfield, Nebraska, to spectate and cheer us on. And last, but certainly far from least, my amazing Great Uncle, Veryl, returned this year from Lincoln, Nebraska, to drive a tractor and be right in the middle of all the fun! Special family traditions always seem to carry on in my family, and some for many generations. For the second year in a row, (after everyone was served a cookie at the QCS), Veryl pulled in front of me, and lead the ride about two miles back to Old Highway 6 Tractor and Equipment. Having all of these family members involved, and Veryl leading us all to the finish line makes for a really spectacular family affair and brings great meaning and sentimental value to the phrase “family involvement!” I look forward to having my Great Uncle Veryl finishing off the ride for all of us for many years to come!
When we all arrived back at Old Highway 6 Tractor and Equipment that day, I parked my tractor in the lot, and shut it off so I could listen to all of the others zoom past me and head up the hill to the loading dock, load up, and head home for the day. It wasn’t without a catch, though. While I was listening, I heard a very loud, and ear piercing, “wooooooooooooooooooooooo’!” Apparently, a new security alarm was installed recently, and, somehow, when they headed up the hill, somebody’s tractor set it off. Oops! The ride finished about 4 PM, due to the rain delay. The statistics are as follows: 47 tractors were there that day. There were 5 Olivers, 3 Case, 2 Kubota, 8 Ford, 10 John Deere, and 19 International.