Charity tractor cruise organized by local Knights of Columbus councils will be held Aug. 24

MARION COUNTY, Mo. — Tractors will ride through Marion County at the end of summer as part of the Northeast Missouri Knights of Columbus’ first NEMO Journey for Charity tractor cruise to raise funds and collect food for local pantries on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The 35-mile cruise from Hannibal to Monroe City is being organized by the Hannibal, Palmyra, Monroe City, Swinkey and Shelbina Knights of Columbus councils.

A blessing of the fleet ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Hannibal High School grass lot located east of Korf Gymnasium (below the YMCA). Following the blessing, tractors will be staged and begin taking off from Hannibal at 10 a.m.

The tractors will arrive at the Marion County Fairgrounds/Flower City Park in Palmyra a little after noon, where they will break for about 30 minutes. The cruise through Palmyra is scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m.

The tractors will start their cruise through Monroe City at 2:30 p.m.

The final stop will be at the Monroe City Knights of Columbus grounds, scheduled for 2:45 p.m. From 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. a tractor show and barbecue are scheduled at the Monroe City Knights of Columbus Hall.

During the cruise, service vehicles will be collecting canned goods, nonperishable food items or cash donations along the route. Donations will be accepted on-site. The food collected will help pantries stock shelves immediately.

Registration is open to the public. Tractors must be able to travel a minimum of 10 mph. The Knights are challenging all drivers to raise $100 to register for the event. For more information, contact Mark Dowil at 573-822-3030.

The parade begins at Hannibal High School and will head north on Pulliam Street. The tractors will proceed on Palmyra Road, Wyaconda and Muir Stand Hutgreen before turning north on Missouri Route 168. The parade will turn left on Marion County Road 402, then follow Industrial Drive, DieMakers Ave., Marion County Road 328 and Missouri Route 168 into Palmyra.

The tractors will enter Palmyra heading south on Main, then turn right on New and right on Johnston Avenue. Tractors will stop at the Marion County Fairgrounds/Flower City Park until about 12:45 p.m. on Johnston Avenue, then east on New before turning south again on N. Ashland Avenue. They will continue on Ross to West Line before turning right on Marion County Road 266. The tractors will continue west on Route C before heading south on Route Z to Monroe City. Tractors will take a right on Fifth, then a left on Main, then will follow Main to the Monroe City Knights of Columbus Hall.