The Eighth Annual Leroy Tipton Memorial Tractor Cruise had good participation last Sunday for the Vichy Volunteer Fire Department as a total of 32 tractor enthusiasts came out for the event.

The tractor cruise began at 8:30 a.m. at the Vichy Community Park. It’s a fundraiser with each participant paying $15, which includes a lunch of whole hog sausage and chicken and dumpling at the firehouse. 

Besides Leroy Tipton, the ride also honored the memories of Don Chambers and Forrest Honse. Some of the tractor drivers wore t-shirts honoring Honse.

The tractor drivers had the opportunity to vote on the tractor contests. Trey Yoakum had the most original tractor, the most decorated tractor and the cleanest tractor. Kerry Feeler had the most troubled tractor and the dirtiest tractor. Mark Havens had the biggest tractor, and Jason Balance with a 1942 H Farmall had the oldest tractor. 

“It was a beautiful day for a tractor ride in Maries County,” said Vichy Fire Board member Bonnie Prigge. “We thank Kerry and Ann Feeler for organizing and coordinating the ride. We appreciate the drivers who participated.”

Prigge said special thanks to Pat and Glenn Dressendofer for sponsoring buttons and for providing their farm as a stopping point. Also assisting were Trooper Hunt and Trooper Crawford of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who assisted with traffic and highway crossings for the tractor cruise.