RFD-TV Breaks Guinness World Record for Largest Parade of Classic Tractors at the Nebraska State Fair
Grand Island, NE (August 28, 2012) – The Guinness World Record for a parade of classic tractors is now 964 tractors/drivers thanks to a determined group of tractor owners at the Nebraska State Fair. The parade took place around the Fonner Park Racetrack after a morning thunderstorm as part of the opening weekend of events at the fair organized and sponsored by RFD-TV/RURAL TV.
Tractors had to be at least 30 years old to participate in the parade.
In order to qualify, each tractor provided a VIN/Serial number and was at least 30 years old. Over 1,000 tractors/drivers participated in RFD-TV and RURAL TV’s parade. A representative from Guinness certified that 964 classic tractors met all of the requirements and drove continuously around the track for a minimum of two miles. The previous record was 745 held by Elbach, Germany.
The previous world record for a parade of classic tractors was 745 participants and was held by Elbach, Germany.
“I have never felt more pride in the history of RFD-TV,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc. “The perseverance by our staff and these tractor enthusiasts through the mud was a sight to behold in itself, as they were not going to be denied the chance to break the Guinness record. Seeing over 1,000 classic tractors moving at one time was a real crowd pleaser.”
The tractors drove continuously around the track for a minimum of two miles.
A capacity grandstand was filled with over 10,000 viewers in-and-around the Fonner Park track who witnessed this unprecedented display of machinery of the past. At least 31 states were represented, with 730 entries coming from Nebraska and the rest traveling great distances including some entries coming from as far away as New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, and Arizona.
Over 10,000 people attended the event.
With additional storm clouds gathering above Grand Island, NE, the rescheduling of the parade was put to a voice vote at an 11am driver meeting. It was unanimously decided that the parade was to continue as scheduled at 1pm when every driver threw their hand in the air and shouted “Today!”
Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc. proudly displays the Guiness World Record certificate.
The parade was broadcast on RFD-TV and RURAL TV hosted by veteran farm broadcaster and tractor enthusiast Max Armstrong, along with KRVN’s Joe Greenwich.
About RFD-TV & RURAL TV:
Launched in December 2000, RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to servicing the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine and rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. Sister network, RURAL TV, launched in February 2012 and is a multimedia agribusiness and rural lifestyle network featuring primetime news broadcasts focused on agribusiness and rural policy issues; weather; world commodity market updates; extensive event coverage; international trade, farm and horse shows; expanded livestock auctions; equipment and ranch reports; plus independent productions designed to give agricultural professionals and hobbyists information to fit every interest and operation. Currently, the two networks are distributed to more than 55 million homes worldwide by DBS and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV, Mediacom, Charter, Optimum, Brighthouse, Suddenlink, Time Warner, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. The bi-monthly RFD-TV The Magazine has more 180,000 paid subscribers, and the company operates RFD-TV The Theatre in Branson, Mo. Corporate headquarters are in Omaha, Neb., and production operations are in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.rfdtv.com and www.myruraltv.com.