Since the first Callicoon Tractor Parade 30 years ago, the voice of Jesse Ballew has been the voice of the event. After serving three decades of emceeing the annual event, Ballew will be hitting the mic one last time for the Callicoon community.
The Tractor Parade was envisioned as a celebration of the rich farm history of the Catskills region. This year the event will be held on Sunday, June 14th. The day kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the Callicoon Fire Department before the tractors make their way through town down Lower Main Street. After the parade concludes, the Delaware Youth Center hosts a barbecue. Money raised at the event goes to the Delaware Youth Center and Callicoon Fire Department.
Ballew has watched toddlers from the early years of the parades grow up to drive their own tractor through town. He was asked to emcee the parade because the organizers were familiar with his show Jambalaya on Radio Catskill. In his experience, every year is a little different, but it is always a fun time.
“They asked me back a couple of years, and we just kind of kept doing it,” said Ballew “I enjoy it, I enjoyed doing it.”
Ballew says that he knew this year needed to be his last. His voice isn’t as strong as it used to be due to asthma and allergies over time. He is excited for his family to come out to the event and celebrate the history of farming in the Catskills one last time.