Sidney Center tractor parade Sept. 17

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Sidney Center’s 12th annual tractor parade will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at noon. The event honors the people and families of the Delaware County farming community and recognizes the importance of the farming industry and its history.

Parade organizers are proud to honor Dick and Jan Ewain as this years grand marshals.

The Ewains own a farm on the Trout Creek - Sidney Center Road also known as Tacoma Road. Their daughters - Kristin, Kimberly and Erin -now have their own families.

Dick moved to Sidney Center with his parents when he was two years old. They bought their first tractor, a John Deere H, from Hiram B. Howes, a John Deere dealer in Trout Creek. The H was traded in for a John Deere B and a two-bottom plow, which they still have.

Although Dick and Jan lived in Trout Creek for a few years, they returned to Sidney Center when Dick’s dad died to help his mother with the farm. When his mother retired, they bought the farm - first the Holsteins and machinery, then the farm itself. The barn has room for 36 cows and calf pen. A neighbor’s barn was rented to hold heifers and dry cows during the winters.

Dick preferred field work and tractor work - haying and maintenance; Jan preferred milking and feeding the calves, and cared for the milkhouse and did the books.

Tractors added through the years included a 2520, 3010 and 4010 ... all green.

Farming is a 24-7 job, the Ewains say, but a great way to raise a family.

After farming together for 30 years, Dick and Jan retired in 2014. Dick raises beef cattle, boards horses and does the haying. Jan keeps busy quilting and is involved with church. They are grateful to their neighbors who helped them through difficult times. They are humbled and honored to be this years tractor parade grand marshals.

Parade registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Sidney Center Fire Station and ends at 11:45.

Last year’s parade featured 67 tractors, 14 classic cars, five doodlebugs and 32 other “cool things.”

There will be raffle prizes, a 50/50 drawing and a chicken barbecue by the Sidney Center Fire Department.

For more parade details, call Lynn at 607-369-9074 or Tom at 607-610-4098.