Tractors Raise Money For Camp
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Tractors flooded Midland Empire roads today for the Show Me Tractor Cruise.
Three hundred-three tractors rode a few miles for many smiles.
The 70-mile cruise benefits camp quality of Northwest Missouri, a summer camp for kids with cancer.
The cruise is the brainchild of one St. Joseph man who rolls up his sleeves to help those in need.
Tractors roll into Camp Farwesta after riding a few miles for many smiles.
They take a break to refuel both themselves and their tractors for the rest of their 70 mile journey ahead.
While some drivers have ridden in numerous tractor cruises, some say this one is unique.
"The fact that it`s actually a fundraiser. That`s it`s actually for something rather than just a bunch of guys going out on a ride together," Driver Shawn Ites says.
But this drive wouldn`t have been possible without the mastermind behind it all, Tom Brand.
Brand has set up the cruise for the past four years but has volunteered a lot longer.
"I used to give...back in college to Red Cross and that`s what kind of I guess started the first connection with feeling that I need to plug into the community," Brand says.
Brand now has one of the dirtiest jobs at camp quality but he says it`s one of the best.
"There`s a lot of dishes to be washed and someone`s got to wash the dishes and it was a great experience. I saw every camper, every companion, every staff person three times a day," Brand says.
And the rewards he says are priceless.
"There`s a few that you`re able to make a connection with and I got a thank you note from one of the campers and that`s what made the week a thousand percent better," Brand says.
Brand says he`s here to remind drivers how important these 70 miles can be.
"We reminded our drivers that there`s kids that drive this many miles or more for cancer treatments," Brand says.
And as long as there is still a cause Brand says expect to see more than just tractors in the future.
"We`ll keep on going on and I think there`s more to be explored. I think we`re at the point now, four years, that we`re going to explore the things other than just doing a tractor drive," Brand says.
