Tractor Rides Double for Burrell Township Annual Event

by Jonathan Weaver

Burrell Township Volunteer Fire Department’s biggest fundraiser of the year begins with a ride through the fall foliage next weekend.

Starting at 1PM Saturday, Sept, 24, the annual tractor ride through the municipality will double.

Fire Department Social Member Reed Schaeffer (who will lead one ride via his 1945 green John Deere) has been involved with the parade since its beginning.

“This is the 13th ride, and I guess I’ve been pretty much there from the beginning,” Schaeffer said. “We try to stay in the township, but we do infringe on some of the neighboring townships here,” Schaeffer said. “Actually, there are two rides this year because we had a lot of feedback that we were going too slow. We had small tractors that couldn’t go any faster, so we’re taking a fast ride one direction and a slow ride in the other.

We’re leaving the firehall and one’s going to go toward Dime Road and the other toward Brick Church.”

Bob Williams, the fire department president, will guide the newest tractor parade about 25 miles into Parks Township via his restored 1950 John Deere B. Williams has driven in parades in Elderton and Rural Valley and at the Dayton Fair.

Williams estimated the slow ride will take tractors about six miles per hour, whereas the faster parade will travel about 10 miles per hour.

“If I feel that things are moving a little too fast, I’ll slow it down a bit,” Williams warned. “Safety is primary. It doesn’t sound very fast, but on a tractor, it’s plenty fast.”

Williams’ youngest daughter – five year old Katie - will ride in a wagon behind him as well.

“As much as I can take them, I take them with me,” Williams said. “They like the tractor ride.”

Schaeffer and Williams said some tractor families come from as far as Murrysville, Sarver or Dayton, with spectators from just as far.

“Saturday’s a pretty big deal. This is something like a community would have probably done in the 1800’s. We were trying to bring back some of the stuff that would happen years ago when the whole community would get together,” Williams said.

The $12 registration fee includes a T-shirt and food voucher for before or after the three-hour trip.

Overnight security will be provided for those who wish to leave the tractors for display for the fire department’s “Ye Old Autumn Festival” Sunday, September 25 – which runs from 11AM-4PM.

A community church service is held at 10AM that morning.

Lori Headley - also the township secretary – has helped organize vendors for the past four years after serving as a firefighter in the 1980’s. She estimated 90 would be at the event.

“I try to have something for everyone,” Headley said. “Not just crafters and the chick stuff.”

Donations and proceeds from the tractor ride and festival will go toward a new pumper truck. The current pumper truck is nearly 30 years old.

1 Comment

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  By jorn jensen, September 20, 2016 @ 8:17 AM

  Great event for Burrell Township - both days!

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