99TH ANNUAL BOX CAR DAYS
A little precipitation and some lightning slowed — but didn’t stop — all the fun at this year’s Box Car Days celebration
Eight years ago — you remember the summer of 2018 — a strong storm cancelled the Box Car Days Grand Parade for only the second time in the history of the event. Last Sunday, Mother Nature struck again, although not with as much force.
A large, slow-moving Sunday storm system that brought rain, and thunder and lightning to the area put a damper on outdoor BCD events like the kids’ day in the park and the mud volleyball tournament.
Horseshoe players did brave the weather and were able to complete that competition. However, the weather was enough to actually cancel the mud volleyball tournament (teams did get their money back) after only a few matches were played, put the kibosh on inflatables and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations in Central Park and move the pedal pull to the picnic shelter at the park.
Downtown Tracy was also rendered quiet early Sunday afternoon, as rides were shut down until later in the day.
THE INFLATABLES at Central Park Sunday were deflated much too early, as that day’s weather was hardly conducive to fun in the park.
INSLEY NELSON of Spirit Lake, IA, did plenty of waving to different units at the Grand Parade.
Things dried out in time for a fun evening downtown, as 3rd and South streets filled back up with the rumbling of carnival rides, energetic kids and tiring parents.
While Tracy avoided the brunt of the rain Sunday — the Balaton area received at least 2 inches that day.
The good weather news was, that was the only rain day of the four-day celebratoin.
On Saturday, things got started early with the Box Car Day Road Race and Kegs & Eggs. Softball and golf were being played all day, and the little ones showed off their costumes in the Kiddie Parade.
New this year was the Pie Eating Contest, where good sports young and old had to search under whipped cream to find Oreo cookies with their mouths — no hands were allowed!
Jett Molitor won the 12-and-under dvision with a time of 47 seconds; Jaxter Pfarr was first in the age 13-17 division at 49 seconds; and for the adults, John Frazier won it in just 25 seconds, besting Adam Bruder, After that, the Pizza, Puzzle and Guzzle competition continued the good times under the tent (and to our knowledge, everyone was able to keep their beer and pizza down this year).
Monday was a near perfect day, albeit pretty windy with another early start with the Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast at the Tracy Municipal Airport.
That nice weather meant there was no threat of the Grand Parade being cancelled as it was in 2018. And speaking of the parade, there was a very special unit this year. Veteran Dave Kosse and his wife were honored by the Tracy American Legion in a patriotically distinctive way.
The couple rode in the back of a 1942 Jeep Willys; but this was not your ordinary military vehicle. The jeep was used on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Operation Overlord as Allied Forces pushed the Nazis back to Germany and the final defeat. The jeep, gifted to Rock County by late Minnesota photographer Jim Brandenburg, was restored in France and paraded on Omaha Beach on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It was shipped to Rock County in 2024.
Under the beer tent, revelers continued to commiserate over cold drinks after the parade, leading up to the announcement of the Booze Wagon raffle winner, who was Steve Larson, and the Kiss the Pig “winner,” Tracy Fire Department volunteer Shane Daniels.
Multi-day events included a Farmer’s Market at Cinammon Hen and the annual Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center Tractor Show.
The party went on until the beer tent closed at 6 p.m., and most everyone scattered, downtown wi-fi returned to its normal speed and Tracy bid an unoffical adieu to summer.
IT WAS DIFFICULT to gauge who enjoyed the big kiss more — volunteer firefighter Shane Daniels or this cute pig. It seems they both have a bit of a smile on their face. Daniels should count his blessings though, as the cute little pig actually bit its handler, Jay Fultz, when he removed it from its pen. Photos / Per Peterson
TRY AS THEY MIGHT, Anne Bruder and Nolan Carlson were unable to win the Pie Eating Contest. While Carlson had trouble after taking on too much cookie, Bruder was ready for more as she licked her plate clean.
WINNERS IN THE INAUGURAL BCD Pie Eating Contest were, from top to bottom: Jett Molitor, Jaxter Pfarr and John Frazier.
