Pat Short and Firecracker on a tractor
With so many fairs and festivals under our collective belts, we have to challenge ourselves to find something new or different each year. One of the big highlights each day at the Got to Be NC Festival is the tractor parade. For several years now, I’ve said that I wanted to learn to drive one. So this year, I asked Pat Short, who oversees the tractor display at the Got to Be NC Festival, to teach me.
Not only did Pat teach me to drive a tractor, he offered up his 1952 John Deere MT to drive in the parade. It was pretty easy, although shifting gears is not quite as smooth as the straight-shift car I used to own. But I guess that is to be expected for a 61-year-old piece of equipment. Pat was awfully trusting in letting me take his tractor for a spin, although he did drive behind me in case I needed any help. But I managed to make it through the parade without incident. And the good news is that I did get an offer from a farmer to go work in the fields next week if I wanted a change of career. So I have a new backup plan.
