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8th annual PATOOT set June 27

By Staff | Jun 19, 2009

PEDERSON – The eighth annual Peterson Annual Trek On Old Tractors, or PATOOT, is set for June 27

For a $25 registration fee, anyone with a tractor can join the ride that will take them

Kathy Brees, president of the Peterson Commercial Club, said the first event was scheduled as a 25-mile ride for tractor drivers through the scenic area surrounding Peterson.

Following the 2006 sesquicentennial, Brees said, there were so many people enjoying the ride they deciding to keep doing it annually as a community fundraiser. About $3,000 is raised at each PATOOT and the funds have been used for a community sign, for the fire department and EMS, and other community needs.

Brees said that PATOOT has created an interest in old tractors with fathers and sons buying an old tractor to restore it for the annual event. Last year, 117 tractors participated. A new feature this year will be the availability of a DVD that can be bought for $15 that will run as a slide show telling of each of the ridwe’s participants and pictures of the ride.

The event has grown in size and this year local musician Rob Johnson will be performing at the Peterson Plaza Green Space from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farm museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Those without tractors can also be part of PATOOT, she said. A “people mover” from the Clay County Fair will be available for anyone wanting to ride the route with the tractors for a fee of $5.

Local artist Barb McGee designs each year’s t-shirt and this year the ride will be featuring Farmall tractors. McGee used her grandfather’s Farmall as a model when designing the shirt. This is the third year a brand will be featured in the ride. Previous years have featured Allis-Chalmers and Case as the ride organizers are trying to go in alphabetical order.

The day begins with a 5K-10K walk-run to raise money for cancer research in honor of Chris Smith, a teacher and coach at Sioux Central School, who died June 1. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. with the event starting at 8 a.m. The fee is $20 that morning or $15 if preregistered by calling Keith Stoeber at (712) 299-2754.

Registration for PATOOT participants is from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in downtown Peterson. There is no restriction as to tractor age or size, Brees said. Registrants will receive a t-shirt and a magnet commemorating the ride and a pork loin meal at the end of the ride, plus refreshments during the morning break.

Contact Clayton Rye by e-mail at crye@wctatel.net.