Tractors as far as the eye can see
News
Posted By Lynn Nagle Leader Spirit
Posted 1 month ago
Dresden, Ontario is generally known as a small quaint little village in the heart of farmland on Ontario with a population of 2700 just became the Tractor Parade Capital of the World on Saturday.
It all began with a dream of Ken Richards, a cancer survivor who wanted to beat the existing Guiness Record of 601 tractors in a parade. To do it he would need to assemble at least 602 tractors. He believed that this community could do it….especially if the parade was used to raise money for cancer. He started to put the wheels in process to make it happen. He even painted his own antique Cockshutt cancer colours: pink for breast cancer, blue for prostate cancer and yellow for all cancers.
Even his dream didn't invision the outpouring of support from all across Ontario and into the U.S. Tractors came alright, in every shape, size and colour. They were driven by men, women, the old and the young. There were the show boaters, the grandstand favourites and some local celebrities in the farm world. They may have arrived humbled, but left feeling mighty proud.
Richards drove past the grandstand in the tractor bearing the number 602. He stopped for a moment to thank all who came out and to thank his supporters who worked side by side with him to make the event happen. He admitted that there were times when getting 100 tractors seemed impossible. His supporters didn't allow him to give up.
Those tractors just kept right on coming. As far as the eye could see, and then some. They started collecting on Friday in the former wheat field of Kim and Bill Glasgow. By Friday night it was rumoured that they might actually hit 800 or even 900. Saturday morning put the numbers at a possible 1,000 or maybe 1100.
The unbelievable dream of raising $10,000 for cancer started to look very possible.
Farmers from Burlington, Grand Bend, Guelph, Mount Pleasant, Paris, OH, Michigan, Ottawa, Cambridge, and all over the rest of Ontario came to support the cause.
Some tractors came especially decorated; some had special signs tacked on which listed the loved ones they were remembering with this ride. And several tractors proudly carried banners reading "survivor".
Several farmers and many dealers supplied more than one entry to the event. They recruited drivers through family and friends….some came from quite a distance to help drive these tractors.
These farmers also brought pledges, both big and small and some even had very generous sponsors.
When the last entry tractor number 12,039 crossed the finished the finish line it was pulling a wagon filled with cancer survivors. One of the survivors was Ken Richards. This time he proudly admitted that in every aspect of his dream had been shattered beyond what he had envisioned. Not only did they beat the record of 601 tractors…they doubled it! And, instead of raising just $10,000. for cancer the parade had brought in more than $100,000. This money is going to the Canadian Cancer Society as it continues to come in and will be used in research.
With 12,039 tractors on one fairground not only is Dresden, Ontario the Tractor Parade Capital of the World….it may even be the Tractor Capital of the World. How about it Ken? Are you going to dream on that one?
Topic guidelines: We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.
Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers.
