His grandparents, not God, were the inspiration for the centennial project selected by Rod Andrews, the Anglican bishop for Saskatoon.
Andrews plans to drive a tractor across central Saskatchewan this month as his way to mark the province’s 100th birthday.
He credits his tractor trek idea to a remembrance of the times when his grandparents in Delburne, Alta., used to let him, the only grandson, drive around their fields in a John Deere AR.
Last September while visiting a threshing days event, the bishop had a chance to drive an antique tractor of the same model.
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At the Ag in Motion farm show held earlier this year near Langham, Sask., a vintage tractor pull event drew pretty significant crowds of show goers, who were mostly farmers.
Later in the fall, when Saskatoon’s religious leaders were discussing how to mark the province’s anniversary, Andrews suggested a tractor trek.
“To my face no one told me I was crazy,” said Andrews, who left Saskatoon June 13 on a John Deer R model. He was westbound for his first stop at Pike Lake, chugging along at about 18 km-h.
After touching base at the western border in Lloydminster, Andrews plans to head east, initially on the Yellowhead Highway.
He plans to visit at least 24 Anglican churches in small towns along the way for barbecues, picnics and other events and intends to end the 1,500 kilometre trek June 26 in Endeavour, Sask.
“Visibility is important because along with other faith groups we’ve been in Saskatchewan since 1855 when the first missionary arrived in Stanley Mission. I want to visit the diocese in a unique way.”
Andrews also plans to use the trek to raise money for the provincial Anglican summer camp, AIDS Africa and an Anglican diocese in Guyana, South America, which has experienced flooding recently.
Andrews said a Mennonite pastor from Prince Albert, Sask., and a Catholic abbot from Muenster, Sask., will join him for parts of the trek.
Rather than wearing his bishop’s robes and mitre, Andrews will go casual in blue jeans and a wide brimmed hat.
However, he is serious about the trek’s purpose.
“I sense how it’s important to recognize the past but there’s a continuity there today. It’s not just nostalgia. At a time when many small towns are losing their institutions, the church is a place rather like the heart of a community.”
