The tractor ride traveled from Farnhamville to Rinard, Piper, north of Somers, through Roelyn to Moorland and then south through Callender, and ending at Laurel Park in Gowrie.

“We do this event for a number of reasons, one being to celebrate the Fourth of July,” said Southeast Valley High School agriculture teacher and Central Plains FFA advisor Johanna Kunert. “We also do it to bring the community together and to interact with the FFA members. It has become a tradition in the community that people look forward to every year.”

The planning of the annual event, as well as a donated lunch, snacks, route, and even a plan for potential breakdowns, is all programmed by the FFA high school students.

“The last few months, the officer team has been getting together to decide everything from the route to the food to the time schedule,” said Kunert. “The president, Hanna Hicks, was a great help by taking that next step and making phone calls and organizing the food and just making sure everything was set to run smoothly the day of.”

-Photo by Julie Vinsand
Twenty-six tractors — both classic and new — paraded through the southwest part of Webster County on Saturday as part of the Central Plains FFA’s annual Fourth of July Tractor Ride.

According to Kunert, the tractor ride was a success and the FFA chapter even received donations that they weren’t expecting.

“I am beyond proud of these kids,” said Kunert. “They make my job easy with all of the hard work they put into our chapter and any event that we do. The older members especially are great role models for the younger members to look up to. Today ran so smoothly because of them and all the hard work they put into it the last couple of months.”

The Central Plains FFA chapter is part of the Southeast Valley School District in Gowrie.

-Photo by Julie Vinsand
Spencer Suchan, a recent graduate and past member of the Central Plains FFA chapter, drives his family’s John Deere tractor as part of Saturday’s Fourth of July tractor ride.