Friendship Wagon Train makes stop in Waldorf

The town of Waldorf, Minnesota made the most of the Friendship Wagon Train’s arrival on Wednesday, June 26. The Friendship Wagon Train is a brigade of horse-drawn carriages, some in an appreciable classic style and others custom made with modern accoutrement, that has traveled across Minnesota for thirty-six years. Their journey began in Rochester, and, despite the tempest that had surprisingly submerged Minnesota the week prior, had made the, roughly, seventy-mile trek to Waldorf safely under the leadership of John and Monica Davis. The Friendship Wagon Train isn’t only an opportunity for volunteers to experience a way of travel that hasn’t been common in America for nearly 100 years, it is also an opportunity to raise money for a cause that helps everyone compete to be the best they can be: the Special Olympics.

 

Davis and the Train had traveled 28 miles to Waldorf from Hope when they set up camp outside the grain elevator. The people of Waldorf, and anyone interested in seeing the Friendship Wagon Train, were invited to visit the camp to learn about the wagons, buy a souvenir, and maybe pet the horses. They would even accept donations from anyone who would like to support the cause. In support and welcome, the Waldorf fire department organized a dinner for the wagoneers. It was a wonderful evening for an outdoor dinner, and the Friendship Wagon Train’s night may have been made better by the $19,500 they had raised for the Special Olympic at that point. John Davis says they are well on track to reach $25,000, a past record, but $30,000 may be a reachable goal. The Friendship Wagon Train rested in Waldorf for the night and planned to travel 15 miles to Mapleton the next day. They concluded their journey in Good Thunder on June 29 with a final ceremony, featuring an auction, music, and a beer tent.

 

Community members and the town of Waldorf banded together to bring music to the arrival of the Friendship Wagon Train. Papa Olie’s hosted Los Tequileros, a band based in Waseca who have a great playlist of music to spend a summer evening to, outside the front door. There wasn’t much seating available, but the motley audience on lawn chairs had plenty of room to grow; the people watching the performance numbered well over forty. Well in range of the music, and in view of the grain elevator, Papa Olie’s volleyball courts were in competitive use. Three volleyball games were played and had some impressive serves darting through the air. Los Tequileros began their performance at 6 p.m. and played until 9 p.m., and the people in attendance surely enjoyed every minute. Waldorf’s efforts to make the most of a Wednesday yielded wonderful results.