The Third Annual Bluebonnet Tractor Ride on April 12, 2008, was a successful one. While the number of participants (53) was about the same as last year, probably due to fuel costs, everyone enjoyed the ride. The weather was cool, but bright sunshine made the day very nice. There were numberous comments about how the scenery was much nicer than on previous rides. For the most part, the ride was trouble free. There was one front wheel bolt and nut that fell off, but the operator saw the bolt fall out and another operator two or three tractors back spotted the nut. By the time the chase vehicle got to the tractor, the nut and bolt had been tightened back in place. Another operator had some carburetor concerns, but the tractor did complete the ride under its own power.
The Fredericksburg Jaycees were responsible for a light breakfast of pastries, baked goods and coffee. Fredericksburg Equipment provided a new John Deere tractor to pull the "people mover" wagon and a Gator for relaying information up and down the convoy of tractors. The lunch break was at the W.A. "Billy" Roeder farm. The Billy Roeder family and friends of the White Oak Social Club cooked the lunch of Bar-B-Que brisket and side dishes. The Hill Country Antique Tractor & Engine Club that put on the ride expresses "thanks" to all of these fine folks that helped out a lot. The club, a non-profit organization, will use the proceeds to support their mission of "Observing Our Heritage of Power." (The above article by Cliff Ingold appeared in the Harper News on April 25, 2008)
For information about the next tractor ride, please contact Kay Allen at 512-894-0086 kallen@texasdata.net or Becky Smith at 830-997-3012 dbs@fbg.net
The First Annual Bluebonnet Tractor Ride was held on April 8, 2006. Fifty tractors ranging in age from 1935 to 1997 drove twenty miles on paved roads in northwestern Gillespie County, beginning and ending at the historic Pecan Creek School. A DVD of the First Annual Bluebonnet Tractor Ride is available for $10 plus $2 shipping by contacting Robert White at rwhite@hctc.net
The Second Annual Bluebonnet Tractor Ride was held on April 14, 2007. Approximately 50 tractors, two antique pickups, an antique semi-tractor and a horse-drawn surrey drove a twenty-mile loop beginning and ending at Burg's Corner near Stonewall, Texas. At noon, partipants stopped for lunch and conversation at the historic Nebgen School and Community Center north of Stonewall.