August 20, 2018 at 4:54 p.m.
Last ride?
Tuesday may be final tractor trip
Last ride?
It’s time to get rolling.
Maybe for the last time.
For the 11th time Tuesday, a parade of tractors and wagons will head out from the Jay County Fairgrounds for a tour around the county to kick off the annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association Show.
“It was started by Jim Bob McEwen, and I was his assistant,” said Jay County’s Bob Lyons this weekend.
But time takes its toll.
Jim Bob is now a resident at Millers Merry Manor and won’t be able to drive this year.
“This will be the last year unless somebody else steps up to take over,” said Lyons.
The tractor ride moves at its own pace — roughly 14 mph — and each year has given Tri-State participants a look at the local landscape, local agriculture, local industry and local history.
On that score, this year will be no different.
Tractors — some of them pulling farm wagons with folks sitting on lawn chairs — will set out from the infield of the Jay County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting. (If Mother Nature provides rain, Lyons said, the transportation will be via church buses.)
From the fairgrounds, the tractors will head to Redkey, where town council president Doug Stanley will provide a tour of the town, including a stop at the Fisher Packing facility on Indiana 67 just southwest of town.
From there, it’s on to Dunkirk and lunch, sponsored by POET Biorefining, at West Jay Community Center.
McEwen will be honored at that point for his leadership and contributions over the years, and Dru Hall of S.D.P. Manufacturing and Dunkirk Investment Group will provide an update on the Dunkirk community.
Tractors will then make a pass around Ardagh North America’s glass container manufacturing plant in Dunkirk before turning north to pass by Millers Merry Manor.
“We’re hoping as many (of the residents) as want to see us go by will be out on the porch,” said Lyons. “Then it’s back to the fairgrounds for homemade ice cream, where we’ll eat too much and lie a lot.”
Lyons said tractors will be hooked up to homemade ice cream freezers to get the cold dessert ready for the participants.
About 50 tractors are expected to take part, and Lyons said the cooperation from local law enforcement and emergency officials has been phenomenal.
Jay County police, Portland police, Redkey police, Dunkirk police and Indiana State Police will be helping with traffic control. There will also be volunteers from the Jay County Emergency Management Agency and the FFA along the way.
Maybe for the last time.
For the 11th time Tuesday, a parade of tractors and wagons will head out from the Jay County Fairgrounds for a tour around the county to kick off the annual Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association Show.
“It was started by Jim Bob McEwen, and I was his assistant,” said Jay County’s Bob Lyons this weekend.
But time takes its toll.
Jim Bob is now a resident at Millers Merry Manor and won’t be able to drive this year.
“This will be the last year unless somebody else steps up to take over,” said Lyons.
The tractor ride moves at its own pace — roughly 14 mph — and each year has given Tri-State participants a look at the local landscape, local agriculture, local industry and local history.
On that score, this year will be no different.
Tractors — some of them pulling farm wagons with folks sitting on lawn chairs — will set out from the infield of the Jay County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting. (If Mother Nature provides rain, Lyons said, the transportation will be via church buses.)
From the fairgrounds, the tractors will head to Redkey, where town council president Doug Stanley will provide a tour of the town, including a stop at the Fisher Packing facility on Indiana 67 just southwest of town.
From there, it’s on to Dunkirk and lunch, sponsored by POET Biorefining, at West Jay Community Center.
McEwen will be honored at that point for his leadership and contributions over the years, and Dru Hall of S.D.P. Manufacturing and Dunkirk Investment Group will provide an update on the Dunkirk community.
Tractors will then make a pass around Ardagh North America’s glass container manufacturing plant in Dunkirk before turning north to pass by Millers Merry Manor.
“We’re hoping as many (of the residents) as want to see us go by will be out on the porch,” said Lyons. “Then it’s back to the fairgrounds for homemade ice cream, where we’ll eat too much and lie a lot.”
Lyons said tractors will be hooked up to homemade ice cream freezers to get the cold dessert ready for the participants.
About 50 tractors are expected to take part, and Lyons said the cooperation from local law enforcement and emergency officials has been phenomenal.
Jay County police, Portland police, Redkey police, Dunkirk police and Indiana State Police will be helping with traffic control. There will also be volunteers from the Jay County Emergency Management Agency and the FFA along the way.
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