PINE ISLAND — Fans of old tractors can get their fill of John Deere green and Massey-Ferguson red on Sunday.
A parade of about 140 tractors will travel from Pine Island to Mazeppa to the Goodhue County Fairgrounds in Zumbrota for lunch before the return trip to Pine Island. The drive begins at 8:30 a.m.
"We're collectors," said Brian Hale of Pine Island, one of the organizers of annual tractor drive. "We started five years ago with 38, and it's grown every year."
Hale said the drive is more fellowship than anything. Drivers never spend more than an hour at a time on the tractor during the 35-mile round trip. The other time is spent visiting with other drivers and checking out the vintage machines.
"A lot of the tractors on the drive are old, family tractors with sentimental value," Hale said. "Most of them sit in the shed most of the year."
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The majority of the tractors are owned by Pine Island area collectors, but some drivers will travel from as far as Nelson, Wis.
The public is invited to join the group at the fairgrounds for lunch, which will be served by the Pine Island Lions Club. Cost is $6. The parade should arrive at the fairgrounds about 11:30 a.m., and lunch will go to 1 p.m or so, Hale said.
Since this is vintage equipment, arrangements have been made for any mechanical mishap. A service van will be the last in line, Hale said. There will also be a couple of flatbeds, just in case.
