Friendship Wagon Train benefits Special Olympics

Teamsters and riders from as far away as Indiana finished a nine-day journey–taken at a leisurely pace and often on quiet back roads–from Cannon Falls to New Richland with a breakfast the morning of Saturday, June 27.

 

About 50 people were present in the New Richland community center as wagonmaster Monica Davis, a Byron area resident, presented more than $30,000 to Lou Ann Kelly from the Twin Cities office of Special Olympics Minnesota. Also accepting the donation was athlete Heather Bell of Mankato, who said Special Olympics gives her “a safe place to be my best.” She credited her participation with helping her build leadership and public speaking skills, including the comfort level to get up in front of the group and share her gratitude.

 

Davis also mentioned that some of the money raised by the wagon train was in the form of pledges which have not yet come in, so significant additional funds will be donated in the near future. “Every penny we raise,” she confirmed, “goes to support Special Olympics.” 

 

This year is the thirty-eighth time the Wagon Train has supported the organization. In a separate conversation Davis had mentioned the group is within about $25,000 of having donated a total of $1 million.

 

In addition to presenting their donation, Wagon Train members celebrated the completion of a safe and successful event. Dustin Davis, who took charge of “traffic control” for the drive, commented the group had been remarkably fortunate in terms of weather: Temperatures for all nine days got no higher than the low 80s, and the only time they encountered rain was one evening when the group had already finished setting up camp. “If it were for sale, we couldn’t have bought better weather than we got,” he joked.

 

Among the celebrations and expressions of gratitude Saturday morning was a plaque presented to the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival acknowledging a $1,500 donation given toward expenses and in case of emergency expenditures. Festival treasurer Jolene Gunderman accepted the award.

 

Although not all wagon units or riders participated for the entire nine-day event, 11 wagons, nearly 30 horses and mules, about 40 teamsters and passengers, and six riders had arrived in New Richland the evening before and camped overnight in an open area not far from the community center.

 

As they had all along their route, they welcomed members of the public interested in learning about their event, received donations, and offered memorabilia including t-shirts, hats and keychains for sale at their “peddler’s wagon.”