Tractor Relay to Start At Homestead National Monument of America In Celebration of the Centennial of the National Park Service

Date: May 17, 2016

In celebration of the Centennial of the National Park Service and the 80^th anniversary of Homestead National Monument of America, the 2016 5^TH Annual Tractor Relay Across Nebraska, sponsored by the Nebraska Antique Farming Association (NAFA), will travel from Monument to Monument, June 3 -12, 2016. The relay will start in eastern Nebraska, at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, and end in western Nebraska, at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument near Harrison.  

Wanting to watch the start of the relay? Come to Homestead National Monument of America's Heritage Center Saturday, June 4 by 9 a.m. If you cannot make it Saturday morning, tractors participating in the relay will be on display Friday evening at the Homestead Heritage Center, which will be open until 8 p.m. Tractors will begin arriving mid-day on June 3, 2016. You are invited to view these antique tractors and talk with the owners. Between 50 and 80 tractors are expected to be a part of the relay and will make their way across Nebraska at 12 miles per hour over nine days!

The schedule for the2016 5^THAnnual Tractor Relay Across Nebraskaincludes the following overnight stops:

June 4 Beatrice to Geneva

June 5 Geneva to Hastings

June 6 Hastings to St Paul

June 7 St Paul to Broken Bow

June 8 Broken Bow to Thedford

June 9 Thedford to Hyannis

June 10 Hyannis to Alliance

June 11 Alliance to Scottsbluff National Monument

June 12 Scottsbluff National Monument to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

The NAFA decided in 2014 that they should be driving for a cause. They chose Operation Comfort Warriors, an American Legion program that aids wounded warriors and their families. Last year the group raised $10,700 with 100% of the proceeds raised going directly to the veterans in need. If you would like to give to OCW, go to a link on NAFA's website antiquefarming.org or come visit with the antique tractor enthusiast at Homestead National Monument of America. For more information you may contact Donelle Moormeier at 402-429-2480 or Ron Moormeier at 402-432-2958.

Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2016. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (Homestead National Monument of America).

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska or 45 miles south of Lincoln, Nebraska. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit https://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm.