Tractor Fun Run 2016 – Fundraising from the Heart
-The following first appeared in The Floyd Times on August 19, 2026 The 19th Annual Tractor Fun Run began Saturday morning at Arlie Thompson’s Family Farm on Christiansburg Pike. This year’s Fun Run was dedicated to raising funds for two local boys facing health challenges and to supporting their families who are facing increased medical expenses. Everyone agreed that the weather was perfect for a leisurely (12 mph) 35-mile scenic ride through Floyd County.
Dale Thompson and Larry Bishop conceived of the Tractor Fun Run after attending a Tractor ride in 2006. They knew they wanted to create a fun event that would benefit the Community and agreed to sponsor children with challenging medical conditions, donating the event funds ($20 for each driver and rider with children under 14 riding for free) to Medical Charities of Floyd County in their names and to other charitable organizations. “Since the Floyd County Tractor Fun Run began in August 2007, it has collected and donated over $81,000.00,” the Fun Run website reads.
Dale Thompson’s sister Diane Midkiff welcomed attendees, thanked sponsors and organizers and introduced the families of Hammond Bary and Brady Donahue, the recipients of the benefit run. She presented the boys with gifts of handmade pillows that a donor made for them. “We truly give from our hearts,” she said.
Bishop led the crowd in a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Thompson shared some honoring words for friends and family who have passed on. He estimated that there were about 70 tractors, some pulling wagons full of riders. He noted that a more official count would be taken when the tractors, a mix of vintage and newer models, drove out of the property.
Floyd Fowler from Mooresville, NC, rode his 1949 tractor. “Since they named this whole town for me, I figured I ought to come,” He joked. He explained how he and his wife discovered the Floyd Tractor Run.
“We came up here about six years ago to go to a car show. We brought our old truck for the car show, and we found out about this. We came up here and thought, ‘Well, we’re going to buy a tractor.’ We bought a tractor just to come up here.” Fowler mentioned that drivers had come from as far as Mississippi and that there were several drivers from West VA.
Joe Sweeny and his father Ray came from Roanoke to attend. It first their first time at the Fun Run, and they only just heard about it a couple of days prior when a Floyd friend sent Sweeny a Facebook link about it. “I thought I’d bring my dad up here to relive his farming days in Iowa,” he said.
“I sure enjoyed it,” his father said. Joe Sweeny added, “Were going to try our best to get into it next year. We have a Super C Farmall tractor.” His father noted that it was a 1953 model.
Bishop took the lead of the tractor Fun Run, pulling the Brady Donahue family and others behind.
Supporters and spectators along the route waved and cheered the caravan on. – Colleen Redman