Visit the Villages Tractor Trek 2015

Aerial view of the tractor assembly point at Reinland Community Centre

Visiting the Villages during the 8^th Annual Tractor Trek on Saturday July 11^th was a delight.  The weather was just the right combination of warm temperatures and overcast skies.  The entourage of 50 tractors started the trek in Reinland, crossed HWY #32 and then wended its way northward through Blumenfeld, Friedensfeld, Hochfeld, Chortitz and then had a lunch stop at Eden Mental Health Centre.

Five rows of tractors all lined up at Eden Mental Health Centre

Hospital Director John Abbors gave the trekkers a summary of the background to the facility, how it serves the Southern Health Region and how it continues to be a part of the expression of faith as it was first envisioned by the nine founding church conferences.

When the trekkers left after lunch, they made a slow procession past Salem Home; whose administration had been informed, allowing assembled residents the opportunity to see what residents of the villages had seen during the morning hours.

The tour stopped in at Chortitz at Valley Christian Academy for a balance beam competition.  The goal in this event was to drive the tractor up onto two large bridge timbers and balance the tractor for five seconds without either of the ends touching the ground.  A number of riders accomplished the task and the winner was Ed Dyck from Boissevain on a Farmall A with a time of 23.22 seconds.  For his efforts he will be receiving a year’s subscription to the ‘Antique Power’ magazine.

Balancing beam...with stye!

After everyone arrived back in Reinland for supper, the judges took over and made awards in a number of categories.

The Best Non-Restored Tractor went to John Driedger from Carman on his 1964 Massey Ferguson 35.

The Best Original Restored went to Jake Harder from Altona on his 1959 John Deere 730.

The Best Original Restored with Modifications went to Randy Suderman who was driving a 1958 Allis Chalmers D-14.

The Quietest Running Tractor award went to Armin Ens from Reinland on what he calls his “parade queen”, a 1948 Ford 8N.

The Oldest Tractor award went to Greg Chase from Regina who was driving John Elias, his father-in-law’s 1940 Ford 9N.

 A new award was handed out this year and it was Ladies Choice award, chosen by ladies of course based on whatever criteria they deemed fitting.  The award went to Bev Dyck of Winkler driving her family’s 1953 John Deere 70.  We were informed by the judges that Bev’s flowing white locks and cute over-all shorts were a contributing factor.

The Easiest Starting award went to Tyler Wiebe who was driving his grand-father’s 1953 Oliver 77 and he also received the Smoothest Running Tractor Award.  It is also important to note that his grand-father, Martin P. Wiebe had been a long-time participant in the Tractor Trek and a source of encouragement to the organizers of the Tractor Trek.  His passing in February of this year was a great loss to his family who honoured him by participating in this year’s event.

The purpose of the event was to raise the awareness of what Eden Mental Health Centre does in the community and to again highlight the breadth of services that have grown from that original dream.  The services include Segue Career Options, helping people evaluate their skills and receive training and coaching as they re-enter the working community.  Also highlighted was the fact that housing and supports within those housing complexes are available to people who are in some stage of mental health recovery, living alongside others who do not necessarily have any diagnosis or need for supports.  The housing model is a reflection of the reality of the world we all live in.  Not everyone is healthy, nor is everyone ill.  We have some of each and we live together and the Eden housing model is a reflection of that reality.

The results of event were that; at the time of this writing, just over $57,000 was recorded as received from the community.  It again is a clear indication of the community’s generosity and also an indication of the fact that there is a recognition of the need for the services that Eden can offer to the Southern Health region.

Visit the Villages Tractor Trek 2016 is scheduled for Saturday July 9^th, 2016.  As in each year past, a new route will be chosen and new events added to the ‘TO DO’ list.

All tractor pictures are courtesy of Terry Klassen photography.  If you'd like to see the complete catalogue of pictures that he took during this event, go to:  www.topstockphoto.com and then go to 'Galleries' - 'Special Events' - 'Tractor Trek 2015'.