Celebrating Brodhead's Agricultural Heritage With Covered Bridge Days

Friday August 12th through Sunday August 14th enjoy a full weekend of family friendly activities at Brodhead's Covered Bridge Days. Beyond the traditional county fair fare, the festival, sponsored by the Brodhead Chamber of Commerce, features pontoon boat rides on Mill Race, lawn tractor pulls, a wild flower walk, Gypsy Air Bi-Plane Tours, horse drawn wagon rides, a vendor market around Brodhead's historic square among the dozens of scheduled events.

And parades? Brodhead has a unique spin on the small town summer classic. Covered Bridge Day's version is a lively panoply of antique tractors and their enthusiastic owners. The parade showcases the four wheeled history of agriculture in the Badger State. The event is circled on many antique tractor fans' calendars prompting the Chamber of Commerce to offer the attendees primitive camping options for the entire weekend. Jim Huffman is the official/unofficial coordinator of all tractor oriented events and logistics at Covered Bridge Days. The ambiguous title stems from the laid back nature of Jim's relationship with the Chamber of Commerce. "I don't know what (the Chamber of Commerce) they call me sometimes I bet its' not good," Huffman jokes. Jim Huffman became the de facto coordinator because of his volunteerism. From going on tour with John Deere for Future Farmers of America (FFA) to his work with the Lion's Club and Jaycees, and more recently, Relay For Life the Chamber was confident in Huffman's abilities. They also knew of love antique tractors and dedication to agricultural history.

Though he didn't grow up on a farm, both his father and grandpa collected old tractors. His grandpa worked in a cheese factory.  "I have the same tractors my grandpa had. My Dad has had tractors since he retired," says Huffman.

Two years into Covered Bridge Days the Chamber of Commerce contacted Huffman seeking to feature tractor displays, reenactments, and lumberjacking. Over the years Jim has added the popular tractor pull, parade and yes, a lawn tractor pull. A group of lawn tractor fanatics approached Huffman and asked to be included in the growing list Covered Bridge Days' features. This weekend fair attendees will experience the fruits of Huffman's labor.  There are so many participants in the lawn tractor and modified tractor pulls will be running almost constantly during the weekend competitions.

Be sure to also venture over to Wild Flower Art Fair featuring local and regional artists, and take a lap or two around Brodhead's historic square the setting for local craftsmen, and small business entrepreneurs selling their wares. And like any traditional small town summer fete there is plenty of live music, good local food and Wisconsin beer

gardening.  There of course is plenty of more events for a complete list and schedule

visit the Brodhead Chamber of Commerce.

For Huffman, his passion for tractors, and his mission with the Covered Bridge Days, "we're bridging the gap from way things used be done to the way they're done now."

DETAILS:

Brodhead's Covered Bridge Days take place Friday August 12th through Sunday August 14th in downtown, Veteran's and Putnam Park.