Tractors often pull combines, but on October 19, they were out to ensure the Republican ticket was pulled to victory in Tom Bean, Texas.
Several scores of voters gathered for a rally in the Tom Bean High School parking lot before the Trump Tractor Parade in the small North Texas town. Citizens heard speeches from elected officials, including Republican Nominee for District 62 Shelley Luther, Tom Bean Mayor Ricky Thomas, and others.
Before addressing the crowd, Luther spoke to The Dallas Express. She asked, “Do you want to meet Jojo?” Then she opened a bag she was carrying. Out popped a swaddled fuzzy baby Kangaroo named Jolene.
The cozy kicker did not seem to mind the crowd around it, and several constituents enjoyed a laugh when it reached its paw out. Jolene even briefly clutched a pro-Trump pin on the chest of one woman holding the animal.
Luther began her remarks on stage by talking about her journey, which began with her being jailed for reopening her salon during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, then twice unsuccessfully seeking office and surviving a brain aneurysm. She attributed her survival and her ability to overcome these challenges to God.
She then promised the voters: “[When I am elected to office] we’re going to be answering our phones… because you are important.”
She turned her attention to policy, stressing, “We need to close down our border [and] fix our schools because our kids are important.”
Luther closed by encouraging those assembled to “vote Red all the way down the ballot.”
DX asked the mayor what he thought the stakes were in the November 5 General Election.
“We can’t afford a loss after the last fours,” said Thomas. “I think everyone — Shelley, John Kermit Hill, Trump, Cruz are running for the right reasons.”
Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Kaaren Treuber, the organizer of the event and head of the Texoma Patriots, told DX she thought it was important to elect former President Donald Trump again because “He’s a businessman, he will make things happen, and we need something to happen.”
She explained that she put this event together to “build enthusiasm [to vote] before early voting starts on Monday.” Treuber served during the Vietnam War and worked with the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense program before retiring 27 years ago.
Pastor Nathan Cain of Harvest Time Assembly of God in Sherman also spoke at the rally.
DX asked him if he thought there was a moral element to the election. “As a Believer, we fight for life… Life and gender issues [are moral issues in this election, and we need to] protect our kids and nation.”
Grayson County GOP Vice Chairwoman Sara Buskirk also addressed the crowd and DX. She told DX, “I believe Trump will win.”
When DX asked her if the recently leaked poll showing Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly ahead of Democrat congressman and challenger Collin Alred worried her, Buskirk said she was doubtful of the poll’s accuracy, adding that she was “positive Republicans will take the ticket from top to bottom.”
She concluded that as Christians, “we pray and trust.”
Following the rally, roughly 30 vehicles took to the road.
Each automobile was adorned with a combination of pro-Trump banners, political signage, and American flags.
The parade featured a variety of vehicles. Some participants drove family cars, others took off-road vehicles, and one drove a vintage car.
The last and most decorated vehicle in the parade was a truck carrying Luther, Buskirk, and several other guests.
Down the road on the parade route, a hay bale was painted with an Israeli Star of David on the front and ‘Trump 2024’ on the sides. A Trump flag flew from the top of the bale, although it was unclear if it connected to the parade.