Parade of Tractors

It pays to look up from the grindstone once in a while. Yesterday morning I was trudging around doing calf chores, my gaze directed downwards as usual to avoid stepping on cats. All of a sudden I happened to look up and noticed an amazing sight in the distance…….a convoy of old tractors rolling down the nearby highway. Ah, yes……I had heard about the Two-Cylinder Club Expo being held this week in Waterloo and recalled that the old tractors would be taking tours in the area each day.

You better believe I dropped the calf bottles, ran to the house to grab my camera, hopped in the car, and kicked up plenty of dust speeding to the corner for a closer look……

Every farmer has his own tractor-driving style……

Some are more stylish than others…….

After a lifetime spent on the farm, I'm familiar with a host of tractor brand names, but, honest to goodness, I’ve never before seen or heard of a “Cockshutt” tractor!

Hey.....look at this.....the guys are starting to exhibit a bit of friendliness…….how nice!

This next guy is trying to tell me something…….something about “five”, I can tell that for sure. "Bring me 5 hamburgers!" or "I'm driving in 5th gear!" or "I'll be in for supper at 5:00!" or "You're a 5!".......ahem. Farmers are notorious for sending hand signals from the tractor seat. The challenge---as you can tell---is to correctly decipher what they are saying to you. What do YOU think he is saying??

Well, well……these next two farmers look REALLY friendly. "Hi, Guys!" Uh-oh……it suddenly dawned on me that I was wearing my HOOTERS t-shirt. Dang. I forgot about that. Its one of the old t-shirts I wear for doing barn chores. Its not an immodest shirt, certainly, but does have the word, "HOOTERS", emblazoned across the front in large, conspicuous neon orange lettering. Oh, dear. (Here's the explanation of how I acquired the "Hooters" shirt.)

What a relief……finally here come some guys toting their hunnies along with them. Looks like an enjoyable time of togetherness!

And, never let it be said that tractor-driving is not an equal-opportunity activity. Look out.....here come the ladies!!

All right! You go, girls!! Oh, I would love to spend a day on a tractor tour!

Hmm……this next rig has a suspicious look. Rusty wheels……no shiny new paint or decals……what’s going on here? Hmm. Can the eyes behind those sunglasses be trusted? Hard to say. The guy looks guilty of something. Perhaps he and his old John Deere were out working in the field when they spied the tractor parade passing by and decided to sneak into the line-up. Obviously, a cunning opportunist at work here. (I am totally kidding here, of course.....I hope you readers realize that.)

This next driver appears to be lugging his outhouse along with him, in a handy spot behind the tractor seat. Well, farmers are nothing if not practical and sensible……and they are full of…..of……of......ingenuity and good humor, of course!

Oh, that was fun…..watching a parade of colorful vintage tractors roll by on a perfect summer morning. Certainly, it was a rare treat! Its great to know there are people around who enjoy restoring and displaying the old farm equipment. Long may this hobby---and, those tractor flags---wave!!

Here’s a few related articles from the Waterloo Courier:

Tractor Jam: Vintage Tractors Roll Through Northeast Iowa

Two-Cylinder Pride Shines at Expo

Tractor Time

And---for good measure and balance---here’s a dairy article:

Vermont Farmers Cut Cow Emissions By Altering Diets

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Oh, my goodness......we absolutely sweltered here yesterday. It was horrible, and turned me into a virtually non-functioning blob for the afternoon. At 8 p.m.---after chores---I mustered up enough pseudo-energy to take a walk down the lane. The air was still oppressive with not even the the tiniest hint of a breeze for refreshment. Ugh, and double ugh! By 10 p.m., there was a slightly cool breeze drifting in from the south......and evidently straight out of our neighbor's hog confinement manure pit. Down went the windows and on went the fans, full blast.

No doubt the weather is similar in many parts of the country and the world. My husband's nephew is stationed in Iraq.....he and I were chatting online the other day and he said the temperature at his base was 130 degrees F! Its a dry heat over there, I know, but still......130 degrees is pretty darn hot!

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Stay cool as best you can!

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