The festivities began early this morning for almost everyone involved in the Tractor Relay Across Nebraska 2014 with breakfast at Mary's Cafe here in Nebraska City at 6 am. After a delicious breakfast and many a cup of coffee the other tractors began to trickle into town and line up and this year's starting line, the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum. All totaled there were 24 tractors that filled out the ranks for the beginning of this year's relay. This group was made up of many different brands and models, such as Farmall, John Deere, Oliver, Massey-Harris, Ford, Allis-Chalmers, and Case. The thing that tied them all together was the enthusiasm and dedication of their owners and operators to the history and restoration of antique farm machinery. This relay event is a wonderful way to celebrate the love of agricultural machinery while raising money for a good cause at the same time.
Also in attendance at the event were members of the Nebraska American Legion to accept checks from both the Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association and the Nebraska Antique Farming Association to support Operation Comfort Warriors, a charity that seeks to assist veterans by providing them with comfort items not normally supplied by the government. After the presentation of the checks and a quick tour of the museum it was time for the relay participants to be on their way. With diesel engines humming and American flags adorning the machines, the relay was on it's way at around 10 am and heading south to the first overnight stop on the trip in Tecumseh.
It's one day before the 2014 Tractor Relay Across Nebraska! Tractors are already starting to file in and preparing for the 371 mile trek from Nebraska City, NE to Haigler, NE, (50 miles Southwest of McCook). This event, sponsored by the Nebraska Antique Farming Association, will kick off at 7:30am on Saturday May 31st with driver check-in and then a tour of the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum as well as a presentation with the American Legion and Operation Comfort Warriors. Operation Comfort Warriors is a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded, injured or ill military personnel by providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government.
This should be a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning filled with history, charity, and camaraderie, and of course an impressive collection of polished-up antique tractors and farm machinery. We encourage anyone interested in agricultural history or agricultural machinery to join in the festivities starting at 7:30am in the City Hall parking lot across the street from the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum here in Nebraska City.
We hope to see many people in attendance, and may your blades always catch the wind!
