Under clear blue skies with temperatures in the mid-70s, tractors of all colors, makes and models — many with flags attached whipping in the breeze — traveled from the Webster County Fairgrounds to Moorland for a pit stop, before stopping for lunch outside the South Central Calhoun Middle School in Rockwell City.

Scot Knock, the ride’s event director, said 371 tractors are participating in this week’s ride.

“We have 11 states represented,” said Knock, from Virginia to California, and as far south as Texas. “We have a family that comes from Texas every year.”

He said 63 of Iowa’s 99 counties were represented in the ride.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Kevin William of Williams drive his tractor down the road Monday after leaving the Webster County Fairgrounds on the WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride.

Knock, who is in his 11th year directing the ride and 15th of being involved, said the weather was about as perfect as it comes.

“This is by far the best weather we’ve had,” he said.

Each year, WHO tries to move the ride to a different part of the state, looking to recruit more people to get involved. This year’s ride included 66 new participants, mostly from the local area.

“It’s a down-to-earth event that defines what Iowa agriculture is all about,” Knock said. “The people are so awesome and so appreciative of the opportunities. It’s so much fun.”

Will Voyles, of Sac City, and his grandfather, Loren Wuebker, of Rockwell City, were participating in this year’s ride for the first time.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Ron Hoy, of Bussey, drives his Allis-Chalmers tractor as part of the 29th annual 2026 WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride Monday.

“It’s been pretty fun so far,” said Voyles, who was driving his great-grandfather’s 1951 Farmall M. “This tractor my great-grandfather had restored to go on tractor rides.”

He said it sat for a few years before he got it running again.

Voyles, 16, is a junior at Newell-Fonda High School, where he is also a member of the school’s FFA chapter.

Together, he and his grandfather restored the 1949 Farmall M that Wuebker was driving Monday. The entire process, which took about a year and a half, involved “splitting the tractor apart” to separate the engine from the transmission, replacing the fifth gear, and power-washing the tractor’s rusty fuel tank multiple times.

Voyles did all the painting, as the tractor is his FFA project, which the pair hopes will be selected to go to the Iowa State Fair this year.

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
Will Voyles, a junior at Newell-Fonda High School, and his grandfather, Loren Wuebker, of Rockwell City, stand next to the 1949 Farmall M that they restored together. Wuebker drove the red Farmall in the 29th annual 2026 WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride Monday, while Voyles drove the 1951 Farmall M behind them. It was their first time participating in the ride.

Wuebker said Voyles has been enamored with antique tractors since he was a little kid.

Of Monday’s ride, Wuebker said, “It’s just fun to see all the different tractors.”

Row upon row of antique tractors of all brands filled the South Central Calhoun Middle School parking lot Monday — Oliver, Minneapolis Moline, Allis-Chalmers, Farmall, John Deere, International and more.

Scott Onken, of Carroll, was driving his John Deere 1530, which he had repainted and restored, in this week’s ride. This is the fifth year he has participated.

“It’s about meeting the people,” he said. “I just enjoy seeing the kids along the road waving at us.”

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
Gov. Kim Reynolds, just left of the banner in a red hat, poses for a picture Monday with students from the South Central Calhoun FFA Chapter in Rockwell City. The FFA group served meals to the 371 tractor ride participants Monday, as well as members of the public who turned out to watch the event outside the South Central Calhoun Middle School.

He also enjoyed seeing so many American flags involved on participants’ tractors.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig had a slightly different view of the ride.

“Of course, what I get to do when I’m watching the world go by at 12 miles per hour, I’m getting a good crop check in,” said Naig. “Things look pretty good.”

He’s also looking at conservation practices.

“I did see several places where there were great nice buffer strips,” he said, “and I’m always watching these things.”

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
From left, Jaedyn Peterson, South Central Calhoun FFA advisor; Michelle Burley, a senior, and Joe Sewick, a sophomore, helped serve food Monday to participants of the WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride in Rockwell City.

Naig, who has participated in every ride since he became Iowa’s secretary of agriculture, said he loves the tractor ride, and this year was no exception.

“With over 300 tractors, it feels like a family reunion in a lot of ways,” he said. “What a wonderful way to spend a morning.”

He drove a 1972 John Deere 4020 Monday.

“Back in the ’70s, that was the latest and greatest technology. Of course, we passed farms that today have the latest and greatest technology,” Naig said. “This (ride) is a way to celebrate our heritage and our past, but also a reminder that time moves on. We have to embrace those new technologies.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds was participating in her third tractor ride Monday. She said the second time she participated was special because she was able to share it with her dad, who had worked for John Deere for 40 years. That year, the ride went right by their farm.

“It’s so amazing, driving across the countryside going about 12 or 13 miles an hour, taking it all in. The quiet,” she said. “Going through these small communities and celebrating agriculture and our farmers and what they contribute, not only to our state, but also to the world. It’s a wonderful tribute to them as well.”

Reynolds, Naig and the more than 300 tractor ride participants all enjoyed lunch served by the South Central Calhoun FFA chapter.

Jaedyn Peterson, FFA advisor, said the burgers were provided by the Lohrville Locker, while all the other food was provided by the Yetter Locker.

“It worked out really great,” she said. “We’re just here to serve it.”

The Calhoun County Cattlemen’s Association provided the manpower to cook all the burgers.

Tom Hiler, of Rockwell City, was overseeing the grill Monday.

“We lit the grill at 9:45 and threw the first batch on at 10:45,” he said, with riders expected to begin rolling in at 11 a.m.

Hiler said some of the “fun” was not knowing how many people to expect, as the meal was opened up to the public in addition to those on the tractor ride. He planned to keep cooking as long as needed.

“They’ll tell us when to stop,” he laughed.

After getting fueled up with lunch, tractor ride participants made their way back to the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Today’s ride will head east toward Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, with a lunch stop at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, then head on to Gypsum City OHV Park south of Fort Dodge. Each day starts and ends at the fairgrounds.

On the last day, tractors will ride to Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park in Fort Dodge, before ending with lunch back at the fairgrounds.

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
Smoke pours off the grill as Tom Hiler, left, of Rockwell City, oversees the cooking duties Monday at the lunch stop for the 2026 WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride outside South Central Calhoun Middle School in Rockwell City. The Calhoun County Cattlemen's Association cooked the burgers for the tractor ride participants.

-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
This young volunteer helped tractor ride participants know where to park, guiding them to the proper spot in each line.