Tractors will be cruising in Brown and Nemaha Counties on Saturday, as the 7th annual benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters is held. Brian Hagen has the story:

Records from previous years have already been shattered, as cruisers have signed on, in high numbers, for the 30 mile ride that begins and ends in Morrill. 

Below is the information provided by the organization: 

On Saturday July 13th, the seventh annual tractor cruise to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nemaha/Brown Counties (BBBS) will occur.  The full cruise will cover 30 miles of Brown & Nemaha counties, starting and ending at the Morrill, KS.  ALL AGE OF TRACTORS ARE WELCOME TO GET INVOLVED.  We will ride whether it is raining or a beautiful sunny day, so please dress appropriately.  Registration is open to anyone with a farm permit, but if under 18 years old, a waiver will need to be signed by a parent/guardian. 

Seventy drivers have already pre-registered for this year’s event.  It’s going to be a BIG one!!!  BBBS largest cruise had 73 registrants and this year’s BBBS staff is hoping to have 80 plus participants.  If you have not already registered, you may register the day of the event from 9am-9:45am at the Morrill Community Building.  Registration fee is $50 per a tractor which includes a free t-shirt (sponsored by Bern Seed), picture of driver with their tractor, snack, goodie bag, and driver’s meal.  The route this year will have a bit of gravel.  Matches, waiting Little’s, driver’s families and friends are encouraged to come to a free will lunch donated by SBS Insurance and The State Bank of Bern at the Bern Park between 1pm and 1:45pm.  All proceeds from both the ride and supper will go directly to BBBS to work with children in Brown and Nemaha Counties.

Trailer parking will be available at Morrill Elevator.  Tractors will be lined up by speed on the Main Street of Morrill.  The tractors will head north out of Morrill and take black top road to Sycamore Springs for a 15 minute water break.   Participants will then take Pennsylvania Ave. (gravel) to blacktop going into Bern.  Drivers will enjoy a lunch break arriving at Bern Park approximately 1pm.  Spectators are welcome to view the tractors from 1:00pm-1:45 while the drivers enjoy their lunch.  Driver’s families and tractor enthusiasts are invited to join the driver’s for a free will donation lunch.  If you plan to attend the lunch please RSVP to BBBS staff, if possibly by 7/10 to ensure there is plenty of food.  Tractors will then drive to Sabetha on blacktop stopping at Berwick for a 15 minute water break.  Once in Sabetha, tractors will parade around the three nursing homes between 3:30-3:45.  Tractors will cruise down Main St. at approximately 3:45-4pm.  The general public is invited to a Tractor Watch Party at Lang Diesel Inc., including hamburgers, hotdogs, ice cream from Victory Last Chance, fire truck, and kids games, and drawings for several items throughout the afternoon.  The BBBS tractors will arrive and be on display from approximately 4pm-4:30pm at Lang Diesel Inc.  Tractors will then return to Morrill by taking Hwy. K 246 and will enter Morrill from the west at 5 pm.  The drivers will then be greeted by the Morrill Chamber with a free will donation ice cream social, air conditioning, and a chance to pick up their pictures with their tractors at the community building.  These are approximate times.  The public is encouraged to take a few minutes out of their day and cheer on the drivers, place signs in yards thanking them for helping local kids, and to view the tractor parade anywhere along the route as these folk help make a BIG DIFFERENCE A LITTLE AT A TIME by CRUISING’ 4 KIDS SAKE.

The third annual mini pedal cruise for kids of all ages will begin after all large tractors have arrived in Morrill.  Kids will need to bring their own tricycles, pedal tractors, and/or motorized ride on for their own mini cruise/small ride in a designated area.  Parents may sign their children up early to ensure receiving a shirt day of event by calling the BBBS office at (785)284-2209 or going to http://nemaha.kansasbigs.org to download a registration form.  Registration the day of the event will also be offered and will be from 4:30-5:00pm at the Morrill Chamber Building the cost will be $8 for both registrations which will include a t-shirt and ice cream after the ride.  A parent signature for the child to participate will be needed.

If you have any questions about either of the events above please call the office at (785)284-2209 or e-mail the farmer’s daughter (Angela McGuire) at angiemcguire@kansasbigs.org.  All registration forms are available for download at http://nemaha.kansasbigs.org and sending them in before the event will speed up the registration process for all involved.      

If you want to make a general donation or a memorial donation in honor of a tractor enthusiasts (all names will be read before the start of the event) to the Tractor Cruise and help kids in the local area please send your donation to 100 Main, Sabetha, KS 66534 or give to one of the driver’s/committee members that are in bright neon shirts the day of the event.  Also a huge thanks go to the following business sponsors that help make this event a great success:   Sabetha Farmer’s Cooperative Elevator, Heinen Brothers Agra Services, Bern Seed/Lortcher Agri Services, Inc, State Bank of Bern, SBS Insurance Agency, Lang Diesel Inc., American Family Insurance, Dennis & Dort Goodman, Agents, Schmitz Welding & Fabrication, David Rumbaugh Farms, Ag Partners Cooperative, Inc, Weldon Aue Family, Stateline Ag Service Inc., Edelmans Home Center, Floyd’s Truck Repair, Inc., Deb’s Imagine’s,

Roger & LaVonne Aberle, Realtors, Valley Vet Supply, Veronica Hogle Memorial, Morrill Elevator Inc., Syacmore Springs Resorts, Midwest Ready Mix, Hartter Feed & Seed, Inc., Nemaha County Co-op, Northeast Kansas Promotions, KSI Conveyors, C&K Service, Aberle Ford Inc., Rokey Cattle Company, Sabetha Corner Variety.  Door prize/Promotional items sponsors:  Java Dave’s, Carpet Plus, Bruna Implement,  and Hardware Hank.