Great Southeast Iowa Tractor Ride participants describe recent northeast Iowa ride as "the best"

Waukon and northeast Iowa played host Wednesday, September 3 through Friday, September 5 to members of the 13th annual Great Southeast Iowa Tractor Ride as 80 to 90 tractor enthusiasts toured the highways and scenic byways of northeast Iowa on approximately 70 tractors during that three-day tour. Riders traveled pre-determined routes of about 70 miles on each of the three days of the ride, mainly along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway route, with the Allamakee County Fairgrounds serving as an overnight parking and point of origin location. Ride organizer Steve Scholtus said with the event in its 13th year, practically every road in southeast Iowa had been traveled upon, so the group decided to come have a look at northeast Iowa, stating the riders have enjoyed the change in scenery. "All the comments have been very, very positive," he said. "The economic development team has been just fabulous to work with. Waukon is very fortunate to have a crew like that." Scholtus said that the Rivers and Bluffs Tractor Club had also been very helpful. "I haven't heard any negative comments at all," he said. "The people here have been so accommodating and I've heard people say that this has been the best ride we've ever put on." Standard photo by Bob Beach.