The Annual Garretson Tractor Ride had its 10th year this last Friday, Aug. 6, and it’s the biggest outing they’ve had to date.
“You couldn’t have special ordered a better day for it,” said organizer Loren Konda. “It was a fantastic day and a fantastic turnout. We had a new record total of 39 tractors, 10 riders on the wagon.”
The ride this year started out at the Highland Church and their secret destination this year was Midwest Dry Casters of Luverne, MN.
“The reason it was a surprise is that when I sent my initial interest letter out I hadn’t gotten my final confirmation, we were only 85 percent a go at that point, so I wanted to be 100 percent before I let everybody know, Konda said. “It worked out, because this way it was a surprise tour. They manufacture hog slats for hog barns. They grilled out for us and gave us a tour of their operation, and it was great. We stopped in Beaver Creek on the way for a rest stop, very nice park with nice facilities on the south end of town. Because of the rainstorms the night beforehand all the gravel roads were perfect, no dust and we had no breakdowns that I’m aware of.”
“I told everybody that we’d be back at the church for root beer floats between 4 and 4:30 and we made it back at 4:18 p.m. It was the biggest ride we’ve ever had, and it couldn’t have gone better! The next day, we did a great follow up ride down in Hull Iowa, and it was also about as perfect as you could wish for.”
Looking at his calendar, Konda said that next year’s ride will be Friday August 5th.
“We won’t be starting at the Highland Church next year however,” he said. “One reason for that is that we ran out of parking spots this year! We had such a large turnout, so I suppose this is one of those problems you want to have!”
