From harvesting corn to harvesting smiles
A farmer from Minnesota has reimagined how he uses his tractor. Tom Konz uses his 1967 John Deere Combine in a unique way to distribute candy to children during parades in his town of Cold Spring.
According to locals, antique farm equipment is a common staple in these parades, but none illicit the same joyful response as the rig driven by Konz. As he drives down the parade route, he “makes it rain” candy on the kids. Paradegoers smile with arms outstretched, hoping to catch some candy in their bags and baskets.
The farmer reflects:
“They don’t know what to expect, and all of a sudden candy comes out. They just go nuts.”
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Tom Konz finds joy in bringing smiles
Konz says he wasn’t planning to turn his 1967 John Deere Combine into a candy dispenser when he first got it; it kind of just happened. He doesn’t remember why or when he first got the idea to transform the antique farm equipment, but he’s glad he took action to turn that thought into a reality.
“I think I’m smiling more than the kids,” Tom laughs, as he pulls the lever and showers the kids with tootsie rolls, candy corn, and lollipops.
Tom attends multiple parades yearly and says he would attend more if it weren’t so expensive. He spends about $130 to fill his combine with candy. He even puts cameras on the rig to capture the reactions of the kids and parents as he passes by.
In addition to parades, this would be an epic way to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters!
See an interview with Tom Konz below and watch the candy combine in action.