Perryville celebrates annual Heritage Days with 40-mile parade

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- About 175 antique tractors from Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri formed a parade in Perryville Saturday morning.

The parade was part of the Heritage Days celebration, which began Friday with an auction, meal and presentation by Max Armstrong, one of America's best-known agriculture journalists. The parade included a variety of tractors with colorful umbrellas, American flags, signs honoring deceased River Hills Antique Tractor Club members and even Armstrong.

The tractors went past approximately 150 spectators, about 25 of whom were from the Perry County Nursing Home. The 41-mile adventure continued on to Ray Kiefer's shop and Buchheit, where the Perryville High School FFA catered a pulled pork meal.

Many people from the nursing home felt connected with the machinery that once enabled them to earn a living.

Cletus Brown and Joe Martens, roomates at the nursing home, farmed together for more than 30 years.

Brown and Martens knew about half the drivers -- some were relatives, many friends. Brown had watched the three previous antique tractor club parades. Even though he quit farming at 81, he still misses it. He said if he had had the chance, he'd have driven a John Deere in the parade.

Melvin Kluender sat in the parking lot at the nursing home in his Chevrolet pickup waving to just about every driver in the parade. His father-in-law had lived in the nursing home about a year ago, and watching the parade was Kluender's way of paying tribute to him.

"Not all of these drivers are farmers. Some are into the antique tractors. Seems like there's a few more women driving than last year," Kluender said.

Club president Daryl Ruehling said Armstrong spoke about what draws people to tractors and why he got into broadcasting. K-106 broadcaster Cousin Karl agreed with Armstrong that getting out of the heat and into the air conditioning while still remaining connected to agriculture was his career motivation.

Lee Unterreiner of Perryville farms as a hobby. His day job as a window clerk at the Perryville post office allowed him to work and play at the parade. Unterreiner wore an Uncle Sam costume to cancel stamps for the limited River Hills Antique Tractor Club postcards prior to the parade. He drove the tractor he loves, a 1942 Farmall A International, in the parade.

"Even though it has less power, it's like an old shoe. You know how it works," Unterreiner said.

Tim Buchheit, president of the Biehle Buchheit, said it was the first year they've hosted the club. Although farming is a hobby for him, he said, "One thing I have in common with them all is the challenge of convincing your wife you need another tractor."

Raffle tickets were sold for a John Deere tractor stationed outside Buchheit to benefit Communities Helping Adolescents Mature Positively and Successfully, or CHAMPS.

Ruehling said the club plans on keeping Heritage Days a two-day event rather than one-day event, especially since the coordination, registration, mailing and organizing for the event takes about a year.

"As soon as this is done, we start planning for next year," Ruehling said.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133