Farmers welcome another growing season with ‘Drive your Tractor to Work Day 2023'

With the sun shining above, mountains in the background, and brisk winds providing a brisk backdrop for the seventh annual ‘Drive Your Tractor to Work Day,’ bringing out dozens of proud tractor owners and community members showing their support to farmers and their families who help bring food to tables all across the Mat-Su Borough and beyond.

The annual drive is a fun way to honoring the hardworking farmers that unofficially marks the kickoff to the growing season and all of our amazing Alaskan Farmers.

As the tractor parade wound its’ way through Palmer, kicking off at the Alaska State Fairgrounds and driving the streets of Palmer along the Grow Palmer edible rail trail, taking time to wave to parade viewers and supporters of Alaska growers and farmers.

“This just made my mother’s day,” said one viewer, whose mother has Alzheimer’s, waving infectiously to the drivers.

The parade finished at the Palmer Pavilion, where everyone was able to partake in an all Alaska Grown breakfast, provided by sponsors Alaska Farmland Trust and Glacier Valley Farm with support from Matanuska Electric Association.

The Alaska Farmland Trust began in 2005 and has worked to protect over 370 acres of agriculture land to be dedicated as farmland.