Drive Your Tractor To Work Day

It was a grey May Monday morning and the work commute begins. But this day it is totally worthy and wonderful. That’s because Monday was Drive Your Tractor To Work Day in Palmer.

Twenty-six local tractors drove east up Springer and north on Chugach into town. The drivers waved at the preschool children who had all assembled behind the daycare facility to watch the surprise parade. The tractors wound around the corners and parked neatly at the Palmer Train Depot.

This event caused an air of excitement in town.

“The tractors are here,” folks said breathlessly, with reverence in their voices. Everyone rushed to the windows to take a look from the restaurant across the street. This was yet again another perfect Palmer moment.

Indeed, this was the kick-off of the 2019 farming season.

Drive Your Tractor To Work Day was started three years ago with Arthur Keys, when he was the Director at the Division of Agriculture.

“I woke up one morning and wanted to drive my tractor to work.” And so he did. And so it began. Last year Governor Walker joined in the celebration and proclaimed May 7 as the official yearly Alaska Agriculture Day.

Eleven farmers along with 10 members of the Antique Power Club drove in the caravan. Seven members of the farming VanderWeele family, representing three generations of farmers, were part of the tractor procession.

This little known celebration applauds and recognizes the importance of Agriculture in Alaska. And to demonstrate, large tables were laden with a full 100 percent Alaska grown breakfast. Sabrena Combs started cooking for the event at 3:30 a.m. at the Palmer Train Depot. There were pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, bacon, milk, onions, potatoes, and coffee — all home-sourced from Alaska. Although there is some symbolic humor about driving a tractor to work, the importance of local foods can not be overstated. Alaska agriculture feeds and sustains many and the occupation itself is both traditional and legendary.

At the depot, close to 100 people are eating and happy. Many are wearing tractor caps. Flannel shirts, Carhardts, overalls, and blue jeans are definitely the dress code. There are some Alaska Home Grown sweatshirts and some Future Farmers of America jackets in attendance. Nearly everyone is wearing work boots. The majority of folks are men who are not at all uncomfortable with their size. Their faces are tanned already from working outside and they have a healthy attitude towards breakfast. There are also women farmers and a number kids in attendance. Local moms with young tractor enthusiasts showed up.

Mat Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter tells me about his tractor. It’s a 1965 John Deere. “I use it everyday,” he says. He makes this statement with pride. He goes on to start to tell me its story.

The Palmer event was sponsored and organized by Alaska Farmland Trust. Public supporters included Matanuska Electric Association, Matanuska Telephone Association, City of Palmer and Erik Christianson’s State Farm Insurance. Handy items for tractor operators included gum, sunglasses, tissues and Chapstick. Far more important than the cute swag was the overall support that the Palmer Community gives its’ farmers. Buying local is a commitment.

Young Future Farmers of America, 4-H, Grow Palmer, Department of Natural Resources Director Corri Feige, two television stations, local Palmer radio station, Brazilian videographer, Phillipe Latte, and Craig Taylor Equipment were at the event. Delta farmer Stu Davies joined in the Palmer event, one day after another large ag event in Fairbanks on Sunday.

Denise and Loran Statts, Aethereal Coffee, Alaska Flour Company, Arthur Keyes, Havemiester Dairy and Mat Su Meats provided the feast.

The Antique Power Club Plow Day is coming up this weekend on Saturday. This is when the tractor club does yearly fieldwork with old and excellent equipment. This year it is off Bodenberg Loop and McCombs Road.

The next Alaska Farmland Trust event is June 1 — “Drink Beer; Save Farms” at Paradise Alaska on the Palmer Springer System.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff on the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net