IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF FARMALL TRACTORS PROVIDES BACKDROP FOR RURAL FUNDRAISER

A dozen bright red Farmall tractors, a little dog that can count, and a barn full of Democrats doing the chicken dance were some of the sights that greeted folks attending a rural fundraiser for Sen. Rich Olive and House Candidate Selden Spencer Saturday (July 17).

The entertaining outing took place at the Rimathe family’s century farm near Slater, in southern Story County.

About one hundred people came to see host Don Rimathe’s crimson collection of Farmall tractors (and one green John Deer tractor hidden behind the barn), and enjoy a traditional farm supper of fresh grilled sweet corn, pork sandwiches and other fixin’s.

Master of Ceremonies Paul Fitzgerald regaled the crowd with upbeat comments and funny observations as he introduced Sen. Olive and Rep.-to-be Spencer.

Olive said he is eager to return to the Iowa Senate to continue work on protecting and expanding small businesses and job creation.

Spencer said he has been door knocking throughout the 10th District, and understands the concerns voters have as the economy slowly recovers from the Republican recession.

The special guest of the event was Senate Majority Leader Jack Kibbe, who is celebrating 50 years in office. He said he takes particular pride in helping to establish the community college system in Iowa.

In keeping with the bucolic theme of the farm gathering, when the music started everyone jumped up, flapped their arms, shuffled their feet and performed the peculiar ritual known as the chicken dance.

The country gathering concluded with perhaps the most unusual pass-the-hat session at any Democratic Party event. While Jane Graham passed through the crowd collecting campaign donations for Selden Spencer, her husband Jim showed the remarkable mathematic talent of their little dog Sera. As Jim held up his fingers, Sera barked the correct number. The amazing counting dog even did a subtraction problem!