NEMO Knights’ tractor cruise builds fellowship, helps hungry people
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Father Christopher Hoffmann climbed aboard a parishioner’s vintage McCormick Farmall Super M tractor, summoned the engine to life and raised his arm in victory.
A bystander queried: “Do you know how to drive one of these things?”
“I do now!” the priest called back.
Fr. Hoffmann joined 20 other tractor enthusiasts and members of the Knights of Columbus on the second annual Northeastern Missouri K of C Journey for Charity Tractor Cruise on Aug. 30.
Men from as far as the Lake of the Ozarks guided flag-decked, scrupulously maintained vintage farm equipment from Hannibal up to Palmyra, then on to Monroe City.
It was 95 degrees.
People standing along both shady and sun-swept byways waved to the drivers and presented money and nonperishable food for distribution at local food pantries in Marion, Monroe and Shelby counties.
“This is awesome!” Fr. Hoffmann, pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Monroe City and St. Stephen Parish in Indian Creek, announced from his rolling pulpit.
Five Knights of Columbus councils — 907 in Hannibal, 1971 in Indian Creek, 1165 in Monroe City, 1937 in Palmyra and 2241 in Shelbina — cosponsored the event to cultivate fraternity and help people in need.
Participants’ entry fees helped cover costs, with the rest of the money being slated for the food pantries.
The event brought in $3,600 and 2,100 pounds of donated food.
“It’s for a good cause, and the five councils going together — that’s what makes it really special,” said Pat Greenwell, a member of St. Mary Parish and the Shelbina Knights Council, and district deputy for his and several surrounding councils.
Town and country
Having been to Mass, participants gathered outside the Hannibal Knights Hall on that steamy Sunday morning.
Father Gregory Meystrik, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hannibal and parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Palmyra, greeted everyone and blessed the rolling stock.
He gave each participant two bottles of holy water to sprinkle on people and places along the route.
He marveled at how well machines that were built for work could provide fun and relaxation on the Lord’s Day.
“It’s a unique way to draw people into the Day of Rest,” said Fr. Meystrik.
Mark Dowil, chairman of the Journey for Charity, led the caravan from aboard a green John Deere 4500 displaying Old Glory and the official sign for the event.
All the tractors sported decorative magnets designating their drivers as participants.
Various decades and models were represented, including John Deere, Caterpillar, Oliver, New Holland and McCormick Farmall.
“I’ve been out in the field with about half of these models,” said George Keller, a member of Holy Family Parish and the Hannibal Knights Council.
“When you grow up on a farm, you get ‘farmed out’ to help the neighbors,” he said. “So, if he has a different tractor from the one you have at home, you learn how to use it.”
Mr. Keller tapped the gear-shift on his vintage Oliver 1600.
“This is a tractor my uncle had, and I love driving it,” he said. “It’s narrow in the front and runs so smooth. It was so nice to cultivate on one of these.”
High and mighty
Tractors are like fire engines and steam locomotives: they summon forth each man’s inner child.
“Nostalgia!” said Mr. Keller. “Most of these guys grew up on a tractor and never got it out of their system.
“If you were a farmer or a son of a farmer, you were expected to work, and you learned how to drive a tractor,” he said. “You learned what long hours on a tractor felt like. Sometimes, you’d get out there early in the morning and wouldn’t get back until dark.”
Fr. Meystrik noted that people associate tractors with work, but they’re also proud symbols of heritage and identity.
“We saw a few old ones, some that were really polished and nice, and a few that looked like they just came in out of the field,” the priest observed.
He said the tractors were a lot like people: “all shapes and sizes and degrees of seasoning and use ... and we’re all part of God’s plan.”
Photographer Martin Spilker of St. Mary Parish and the Shelbina Knights Council prayed the Rosary while shooting photos and driving a support vehicle.
He talked about how earlier this year, weather radar showed a tornado heading straight for his home.
“I didn’t have any place safe to go, so I just started praying ‘Hail Marys’ and let the Blessed Mother intercede for me,” he said.
The tornado lifted off the ground and dissipated before getting to him.
“No matter how bad things get, pray the Rosary,” Mr. Spilker advised. “I do every day now.”
Rattling on
One participant had minor engine trouble early on but got his tractor running and caught up with everyone.
The group averaged 17 mph, stopping briefly at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Palmyra to rest and have lunch.
Fr. Hoffmann said commanding a 70-year-old tractor is different from driving a passenger vehicle.
“You get a lot less coast and a lot stiffer brakes,” he said.
He was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who were out in their yards to wave as the tractors rumbled by.
“They were probably equally surprised to see a priest driving a tractor!” he said.
Fr. Hoffmann studied Ag Systems Tech in college but never got to drive a full-sized modern tractor until last year.
This was his first experience aboard an “antique” tractor.
“It was a little different from the Case IH 305 I pulled a grain cart with last year,” he said, “but it was still a smooth and peaceful ride.”
Near the end of the journey, the tractors and their drivers processed down Main Street in Monroe City, past Holy Rosary Church and into victory-lap formation around the Knights of Columbus parking lot.
The tractors were displayed outside the hall as fellowship and a barbecue dinner fundraiser got under way in the cool indoors.
A 15-year-old member of St. William Parish in Perry talked about the John Deere 3010 he had just piloted through three counties.
“It’s a classic,” he said.
The young man has been operating the green machine since he was 8.
He noted that the ride feels a lot smoother on pavement than out in the field.
“It doesn’t have an automatic gear shift to get it going,” he said. “But it’s pretty comfortable.”
Tom Vincent brought one of his Dad’s restored tractors to ride in the tractor cruise.
“Lots of people waved to us as we went by,” said Mr. Vincent, chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, in Laurie.
“Lots of families and kids sitting outside, waiting for us, like a parade,” he said. “They knew we were coming. And you’d drive by a house, and the Mom and the kids would be out waving to you.”
Sherry Lemongelli, a member of St. Stephen Parish in Indian Creek, lauded the event’s organizers and participants.
“It’s wonderful for all the food pantries in the area,” she said. “There’s a big need for food in our area, and we’re part of a family, and families stick together.”
Lord of the harvest
Mr. Dowil, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Palmyra and the Hannibal Knights Council, organizer for this and last year’s Tractor Cruise, brought the idea to Northeast Missouri after attending the 2024 Journey for Charity between Union and Washington, sponsored by seven Knights councils in the St. Louis archdiocese.
Andy Thomeczek, a member of the Hannibal Knights Council, said he enjoyed working with members of neighboring councils on this year’s Northeastern Missouri event.
“It was a lot of fun seeing all the councils come together for the common good,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing you’re proud to be a part of.”
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Each local council has its own successes and struggles.
“But all the guys have the same goal,” said Mr. Dowil. “To do the work of the Church.”
In this case, the work was a Corporal Work of Mercy: feeding the hungry.
Mr. Dowil insisted that nobody in this bountiful nation should be allowed to go without food.
“Charity is the first pillar of the Knights,” he said. “But we’re not just a charitable organization. We’re a Catholic charitable organization. That makes a huge difference.”
It means helping people on behalf of God and his Church, he said.
The Knights order has four main principles — Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, and all four were on full display during the event.
Mr. Dowil is convinced that word is spreading about the Journey for Charity, and next year’s will be a breakout event.
“It’s just going to continue to grow from here,” he said.
Bringing in the sheaves
Josh Underhill is grand knight of the Monroe City Knights Council, which handled the finances for the event and hosted the barbecue at its hall.
“An event like this not only builds up fellowship and camaraderie within the Catholic community here in Northeastern Missouri, but it’s for a very good cause,” he said.
“God calls all of us to serve and help people who are poor and in need,” he stated. “I think he’s pleased with how our efforts turned out.”
Fr. Hoffmann said he hopes the charity cruise continues to grow and help even more people through the local food banks.
Lucas Volkmann, Missouri state deputy for the Knights of Columbus, has been involved in the order’s Missouri State Council for years and has heard many great things about the councils in Northeastern Missouri supporting their parishes and helping their communities.
“Helping people is something we’re always being called to do,” said Mr. Volkmann, a member of Sacred Heart Parish and its Knights Council in Columbia. “And doing it together like this, with so many families and kids all around, that also does a lot of good.
“You can see the Holy Spirit in all of this, because there’s no way we could accomplish it on our own,” he stated.
“But if we trust in God, trust in the Holy Spirit and in the intercession of the saints and our Blessed Mother, we can do a lot.”
