The Rural Voice, 1999-12, Page 18Practical machinery like bale wagons (bottom),
tractors, loaders, even Terrogator sprayers (top) all
become jewels in the night at the Rockwood Farmers'
Parade.
FARMERS' PARADE
In Rockwood, farmers harvest a little Yuletide
joy. Sprayers and spreaders Tight up the town
in an annual parade.
By Deborah Quaile
Photos by Lynn Stewart
14 THE RURAL VOICE
Farming families in Eramosa
Township have added a unique
twist to the holiday season by
parading into nearby Rockwood to
deliver their Christmas wishes to
urban residents.
Farmers of the "3rd and 4th Line
March Blahs Committee and Friends.'
gather each year to prepare the annual
Farmers' Parade of Lights, by
decorating every tractor, hay wagon,
skid -steer, and manure spreader with
thousands of glowing lights, shiny
garlands, and jaunty bows. Portable
generators power the lights and
music, consequently turning everyday
farm equipment into magical, musical
vehicles.
The farm community loves the
challenge of decorating implements
in a unique way each holiday season.
Dozens of hours of work go into each
float by each farm family and friends.
Rudolph can be seen sporting his
shiny nose at the front of a John
Deere, and "Santa's elves" hop off
hay wagons to hand candy canes to
thousands of wide-eyed children
lining the road. A set of harrows
glows as it's never done before, with
hundreds of bulbs and enough tinsel
to decorate two dozen Christmas
trees. And in a touch of frivolity, one
year the Junior Farmers towed a hot
tub and change room on a wagon