Gary Wicik from Crete and Don Werner Jr. from Manhattan get ready on their International tractors for the Jerry and Lorraine Davidson Memorial Tractor ride held on Saturday, Aug. 16. The ride was 29.5 miles long and travelled west of Symerton through the Joliet Arsenal and west through the country and back to Symerton.

Dean Bettenhausen, founder of Tractors for a Cure, carried the water and pop coolers for the tractor ride and had some guests sitting in the back, Eli and Brandi Geiss, the mayor of Symerton and his wife. The proceeds from the event benefitted both St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Park District of Symerton, with $4,000 being donated to both programs.

Dave Kestel shared this drone shot showing over 30 tractors participating in the Memorial tractor ride. It was an extremely hot day, but the drivers were troopers and finished the ride for our fundraiser.

The Jerry and Lorraine memorial tractor ride meanders through the county west of Symerton for 29.5 miles and was safely monitored by the Will County Sheriff’s auxiliary throughout the ride to keep our drivers and their equipment safe while crossing major roads. (Photo by Jean Phelps)