BRODHEAD —  Brodhead’s fifth annual Tractor Drive benefiting the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin is planned for Sunday, Sept. 23. The 2018 event will include several changes from years past.

Organizers have teamed up with the Brodhead Airport and the Kelch Aviation Museum to offer a new home base for this year’s ride. Additionally, the ride has been broken into two shorter parts, a morning ride and an afternoon ride. 

The morning ride will lead to Wood’s Crossing, and the afternoon ride will lead to Collinwood Elderly Care, where residents will be able to watch the tractors and wagons parade past. The morning ride will include a tour of the countryside to the east of Brodhead, and the afternoon ride will head west. 

Between rides, Boy Scout Troop #108 will be serving lunch at the airport, and planes will be on display all day. 

Individual participation and sponsorship has grown since the event began in 2013. The first year the event took place, fewer than 10 sponsors were involved. This year, the event has over 50. 

The goal of the event is to raise awareness and encourage communication between people who are touched by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 

Anyone interested in participating can register beginning at 9 a.m. The first ride will depart at 10. Lunch is scheduled for 11:30, and the second ride will leave at 1:15 p.m. 

All tractors must be able to maintain a minimum speed of 10 miles per hour, and all drivers must hold a valid driver’s license or a tractor safety certificate.  No riders are permitted on tractors, but wagons will be available for riders. 

Anyone with questions may contact Schwartzlow at 608-214-9096 or Fritz Wenger at 608-214-4371.