Red Rock Threshers Tractor Ride appreciates area hospitality ...

The Red Rock Threshers based out of Pella held their annual Tractor Ride in Allamakee County this year, with more than 220 tractors traversing the roadways of Allamakee County Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21. After arriving at their homebase location of the Waukon High School parking lot (pictured in wide photo above) Thursday afternoon, July 19, riders departed from that location (pictured in two photos at left and right) early both days of the ride, traveling 86 miles Friday from Waukon to New Albin and then through Lansing, Harpers Ferry and Waterville before returning to Waukon in the late afternoon, and then journeying 62 miles Saturday up Highway 76 to Dorchester and Eitzen, MN before returning to Waukon via Lycurgus Road to then prepare to depart for home.

Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Coordinator Ardie Kuhse, who helped with local coordination of the event, said the only negative aspect of the event was Thursday’s weather, but not necessarily here locally. The same storm system that produced Thursday evening’s heavy rains in the local area also resulted in several tornadoes in southern Iowa, with one of those hitting the hometown of many of the riders, Pella, as well as the community of Marshalltown, where several other registered riders had come from. Kuhse said several of this year’s registered participants had to return to their hometowns prior to the ride even starting or turned around while traveling to Waukon to address storm damage on their home farms and within their hometown communities.

Other than that Thursday storm system, the weather cooperated fully with the ride allowing the riders to have “an absolutely great time,” according to Kuhse. She also shared that the ride participants and organizers were very appreciative of the hospitality from all the communities they traveled through, as well as the efforts of the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and Waukon and Lansing Police Departments in assisting their traveling efforts during the two-day event. “What stuck out most to me is that they said the sheriff’s department and police departments are the best they’ve ever worked with in holding this ride,” shared Kuhse. “They said they had never worked with a community that gave them that level of assistance with traffic control.”

Kuhse said the riders were also very appreciative of the welcome they received from each of the communities they traveled through and the area businesses they visited while here. Likewise, community members and business owners also relayed to Kuhse how they appreciated the support and generosity of the riders who visited their communities. “Each community really put itself out there to welcome these riders, and that was very much appreciated by everyone involved,” Kuhse said. “In fact, when I told them to make sure they come back again sometime, I heard someone say, ‘We’ll see you next year!’”