Dancing tractors take final bows
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, August 10, 2008
Nemaha Farmall Promenade members Dave Cook, right, and Lynn Smith square dance at the Merrick County Fair near Central City, Neb., in this 2004 photo. The group's last show will be Aug. 30 in Nemaha. (AP photo)
NEMAHA, Iowa -- A 10-year dance for the famed Farmall Promenade of Nemaha is about to end. The square-dancing tractors perform at 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at Yankton's Riverboat Days and for the last time at 4 p.m. Aug. 30 in the group's hometown.
"We will hold the last performance of Nemaha's Farmall Promenade right where it all started -- Main Street, Nemaha," noted Russ Davis, one of the group's members.
What a 10 years it's been for the tractors and their operators. The group has sold more than 40,000 videos worldwide and has taken calls from all 50 states. The dancers have been featured on NBC's "Today Show" and in newspapers such as USA Today (on the front page), The Boston Globe and "a newspaper in Holland," according Damon Mooney, one of the group's founders.
The dancing unit organized a decade ago as a way to attract folks to the Nemaha centennial. What started in this "Mighty Small Town" as Sac County's Nemaha, population 102, is called, certainly grew. Soon, the Farmall Promenade was being asked to take its 75-minute dancing show on the road. The frequent bookings became an issue for the tractor operators, all who have farms and businesses to run in addition to family commitments.
So did cost.
"We feel we've got a pretty good show," said Davis, 54. "But to charge 26 cents a mile, which is what we do as we're hauling quite a bit, it gets to be a lot."
The Farmall Promenade performed three shows Thursday at the Iowa State Fair.
"We're having such a grand time saying thanks to all the people who have followed us," Davis said. "Time will tell how much we'll miss it. Ten years is a good long time. We've felt this is about as far as we can go."
Davis said he probably won't miss wearing a dress, part of the costuming he and the group members sport during the comedic dancing skit.
"It's time to get back to normal life without a brazier," he said.
The Farmall Promenade corporation owns all 10 tractors, various C and H models built from 1943 to 1955. Davis said he's not sure where the tractors will be housed in the future. He said a museum dedicated to the group hasn't been discussed.
"We're not that important," Davis said.
Through the decade, the group remained intact, losing only one member, Roland Schmidt, who died of cancer four years ago. Schmidt's wife, Laurie, remains the square-dancing caller.
The final show in Nemaha on Aug. 30 will be followed by a catered meal and a performance by the rhythm and blues band Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Horns. In case of rain, the show will be held the following day.
Dance roster
Laurie Schmidt calls the square-dancing routines for the Nemaha Promenade group. Here are the tractor operators: Damon Mooney, Dave Cook, Lynn Smith, Lance Wedeking, Mike Wattier, Neil Wedeking, Russ Davis, Jeff Smith, Jim Combes and Neal Johnson.
"We will hold the last performance of Nemaha's Farmall Promenade right where it all started -- Main Street, Nemaha," noted Russ Davis, one of the group's members.
What a 10 years it's been for the tractors and their operators. The group has sold more than 40,000 videos worldwide and has taken calls from all 50 states. The dancers have been featured on NBC's "Today Show" and in newspapers such as USA Today (on the front page), The Boston Globe and "a newspaper in Holland," according Damon Mooney, one of the group's founders.
The dancing unit organized a decade ago as a way to attract folks to the Nemaha centennial. What started in this "Mighty Small Town" as Sac County's Nemaha, population 102, is called, certainly grew. Soon, the Farmall Promenade was being asked to take its 75-minute dancing show on the road. The frequent bookings became an issue for the tractor operators, all who have farms and businesses to run in addition to family commitments.
So did cost.
"We feel we've got a pretty good show," said Davis, 54. "But to charge 26 cents a mile, which is what we do as we're hauling quite a bit, it gets to be a lot."
The Farmall Promenade performed three shows Thursday at the Iowa State Fair.
"We're having such a grand time saying thanks to all the people who have followed us," Davis said. "Time will tell how much we'll miss it. Ten years is a good long time. We've felt this is about as far as we can go."
Davis said he probably won't miss wearing a dress, part of the costuming he and the group members sport during the comedic dancing skit.
"It's time to get back to normal life without a brazier," he said.
The Farmall Promenade corporation owns all 10 tractors, various C and H models built from 1943 to 1955. Davis said he's not sure where the tractors will be housed in the future. He said a museum dedicated to the group hasn't been discussed.
"We're not that important," Davis said.
Through the decade, the group remained intact, losing only one member, Roland Schmidt, who died of cancer four years ago. Schmidt's wife, Laurie, remains the square-dancing caller.
The final show in Nemaha on Aug. 30 will be followed by a catered meal and a performance by the rhythm and blues band Fat Tuesday & the Greasefire Horns. In case of rain, the show will be held the following day.
Dance roster
Laurie Schmidt calls the square-dancing routines for the Nemaha Promenade group. Here are the tractor operators: Damon Mooney, Dave Cook, Lynn Smith, Lance Wedeking, Mike Wattier, Neil Wedeking, Russ Davis, Jeff Smith, Jim Combes and Neal Johnson.
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