Below you will find a short bio on each of the members. This dedicated group has formed a strong bond which has helped each other through adversities while continuing their square dancing uninterrupted. They practice together, travel together, and are always on a quest to learn new moves to keep their square dance routine fresh and sharp.
The members will be presented with the dance caller, alternate drivers and sound person/alternate caller first, followed by the driver-couples representing:
Pioneer • Wilson • Dekalb • Garst
Click on the small photos with red or blue border to enlarge.
The Call Girl - Laurie Mason-Schmidt
 When she says "I holler, they foller" she ain't kiddin!
She's the genius who has taken square dance calling to a new level, tractor seat high!
She's written the patter call for every dance and keeps "the boys" dancing on the clutches and brakes at every show.
Besides teaching physical education at Schaller-Crestland Elementary and Middle School, she farms nearly 1,100 acres near Nemaha.
If you're ever floating down "Buck Run,"
holler "Hello" as you float by!
|
 Mr. John Dear/Sound - Neal Johnson
You name it, he's done it all for the Farmall promenade. Often arriving hours ahead of the rest to scout out the venue and prepare the sound system.
 His efforts keep the show moving, even when he makes his nightly appearance as "Mr. John Dear."
Neal runs a thriving Pioneer Seeds business and sells crop care products as well. His hobby: doing paralegal work for the Farmall Promenade!
|
Master Driver - Jim Combes
 Some people are a natural when it comes to driving anything from a tractor to a motorcycle. Jim has filled the role of nearly every position of the Farmall Promenade.
Jim farms northeast of Nemaha and maintains a cow/calf heard.
His special interest: riding his Harley Davidson Heritage Soft Tail.
|
Mr. Pioneer - Dave Cook
Nemaha's #1 woodcrafter, Dave has turned his hobby into a profession and now designs, builds and installs fine cabinetry and furniture.
With a Dairy farm upbringing, Dave can still step onto any of the group's farms and operate any tractor or piece of equipment that needs an operator.
His hobbies are playing the piano, landscaping and any community construction project.
|
Mrs. Pioneer - Lynn Smith
 No one expected this burley cattle producer and farmer to turn into the Farmall Promenade's "wildest woman," but keep an eye on her or she'll be on your lap in the grandstand! From the revolving brassiere to the "Jim-Bob" smile, Mrs. pioneer will keep you in stiches, and watch out, she's a real honker.
His hobby: creating any invention needed on the farm. His shop has seen dozens of innovative projects to completion (not to mention just as many "fix-its" for the neighbors). He is also a talented golfer, having once played an entire 9-hole round using the same ball!
|
 Mr. Wilson - Lance Wedeking
 Lance and his family have a farrow-to-finish hog operation along with their crops.
Lance is also a Wilson Seed salesman, but this "Mr. Wilson" doesn't stand behind a board fence, he dances on his "H". If you want to talk "red paint" or "Farmall Promenade," he's the man with the passion.
 You don't find much green paint on "Mr. Wilson's" farm, but you will find an F-20, H, M, 450, 806, 1466, 1486 and an MX200, and you can bet they all run!
His hobbies: hunting with his son Ray and cheering on daughters Amy and Jill in their many athletic events.
|
 Mrs. Wilson - Mike Wattier
Only one man can keep up with the infamous Red Green when it comes to tying flies, fishing and telling big stories and that is Nemaha's one and only Mike Wattier.
Mike, the "senoir lady" of the group has decided to postpone retirement for a few years due to the popular demand for the Promenade's entertainment services.
 When it comes to dancing with a flare, Mrs. Wilson has it all from her frilly can-can undergarments to her 44D "upper" garments, and watch out when Mr. John Dear enters the ring . . . She's as excitable as the generator on her "C".
His hobby: fishing, fishing and fishing (in that order)!
|
Mr. Dekalb - Neil Wedeking
 This fine gentleman is a most patient, tolerant and forgiving tractor dancer. The "masculine" character of couple #3, must endure much embarrassment as his "insignificant other," Mrs. Dekalb. does her own thing.
 A farrow to finish hog producer as well as a sheep producer, Neil farms south of Nemaha on his family's century farm.
Neil and his father have sold Dekalb Seed on their farm for twenty years.
His hobbies: reading, travel and community projects.
|
 Mrs. Dekalb - Russ Davis
For nearly 50 years this Iowa farmer wondered why God gave him such skinney legs, then he wore his first skirt in the Farmall Promenade and found out why. Now "Mrs. Dekalb" is all about fashion, mostly the color yellow? From her not so dainty yellow hat (look out red hat ladies, you've got some "ugly" competition) to her fine yellow dancing shoes, style means everything to her?
Be careful, something about that yellow turns Mrs. Dekalb into a less-than-proper lady on the dance floor.
 Russ farms southeast of Nemaha with his family and is also a registered nurse, working at a local care center in the winter. His hobbies: singing, speaking (United Methodist Lay Speaker and member of the Iowa Farm Bureau Speakers Corp) and traveling with the Farmall Promenade.
|
Mr. Garst - Damon Mooney
This gentleman could best be described as the player/coach of the Farmall Promenade.
 It was Damon who first presented the idea of resurrecting the square dancing tractors act at a Nemaha Centennial meeting, and since the group hit the road in 1999 his phone is hotter than the exhaust manifold of his "H" during a show.
He's the go-to-guy if you're wanting to book this unique group of entertainers.
The man in blue farms north of Nemaha where he also manages a cow/calf herd and sells Garst Seed. His hobbies: NASCAR, grandchildren Ben, Sam and Claire, and promoting the Farmall Promenade.
|
Mrs. Garst - Jeff Smith
 Watch out when this "white Hat" lady turns in tight on a side-by-side, you're likely to get a little lift from her 11.2x36 tire. Yes, occasionally you catch a dancer with an uplifted wheel, but relax, what goes up must come down!
Everyone in the farmall Promenade gives Mrs. Garst the greatest respect, she holds the purse strings for the group.
Jeff farms on the Smith Century farm northwest of Nemaha where his shop is always busy with repairs or a new invention. His hobbies: Padget, Bridget, Colleen, Brendan, and Dillan's (his 5 kids') activities and hunting.
|
 Master Driver - Roland Schmidt
In memory of
Roland "Roly" Schmidt
1950-2004
|
From American Profile magazine: "As Laurie Mason-Schmidt calls out square-dance moves, performers rev up and roll out. . . 'Wheel meets wheel, hood meets hood, move those tractors, lookin' good!'"
|
The Farmall Promenade had its genesis at a Nemaha Community Centennial meeting in January of 1998 when Damon Mooney suggested resurrecting an act he'd seen in the early 1950's in the neighboring community of Early, Iowa. Damon, age 7 at the time, recalled seeing eight men on shiny Farmall tractors square-dancing to music and a caller. His idea; "Wouldn't it be fun to try to do that for the 1999 Nemaha Centennial," and the stage was set.
Three "Alumni" of that 50's group were still living and one of them, Cecil Boeckman, visited the inquisitive "recruits" and inspired them with stories and explanations about tractor square dancing. Another alumnus, Bill Smith, is father to Lynn Smith, A.K.A. "Mrs. Pioneer."
The July 1999 debut at the Nemaha Centennial was a huge success, leading immediately to requests to perform and a media frenzy. Newspapers from coast to coast and abroad have featured the Farmall Promenade "Square Dancing Tractors" as well as radio shows like National Public Radio and television features on the NBC Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and Iowa Public Television.
'))
'))
'))
'))
Home | 2008 Schedule
| Buy the DVD
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)