11th Annual North Iowa Tractor Ride

Northeast Iowa - The North Iowa Tractor Ride took place Friday-Saturday, July 13-14, when at least 150 tractors and 180 riders gathered at Howard County Fairgrounds as a headquarters for the 11th annual event.

On Thursday night, the Cresco Wildlife Club held a liver and onions or chicken meal, with help from the local youth Clay Crushers Trap Shooting Club. Numbers were a little heavier, not a lot, leaning toward the chicken.

The Moo Mobile was set up, and Cresco American Legion set up the Bingo stand, with proceeds going toward the Clay Crushers. 

The Howard County Historical Preservation Center was open and had quite a few out-of-town visitors.

On Friday the 13th, the tractors were met by light showers as they traveled toward Lime Springs for the morning break. They continued on to Elma and Jerico in decent weather before returning to the fairgrounds in a deluge of rain. 

A Cresco police officer got out of his car in the driving rain to direct the drivers through the intersection  of  Granger Road and Highway 9.   

Saturday was a better weather day as they traveled from Cresco to Ridgeway, near Bluffton and to Burr Oak, returning to Cresco. 

This is the third time the ride stayed in Cresco. Sponsors of the ride, 98.7 KISS Country in Mason City, 103.7 The Fox in Mason City, and 95.1 The Bull in New Hampton noted they get the red carpet treatment in Howard County.