Power Wagon parade Saturday morning in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD — The public is invited to see power wagons roll through Fairfield on Saturday morning.

The 2022 Gordon Maney Memorial Dodge Truck Reunion will hold its annual parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, traveling from the Jefferson County Fairgrounds to Central Park. It will be the culmination of four days of activities for attendees of the reunion, most of whose events are for registered participants only.

Matthew Welcher of Vintage Power Wagons in Fairfield said this event is no longer referred to as a “rally” but rather a “reunion” to emphasize that event goers are a family.

“We’re focusing more on getting back to our roots,” he said. “We are catching up on the things we’ve missed the past several years, so it’s more of a reunion than a rally.”

The event began on Wednesday and runs through Saturday, with the group of power wagon enthusiasts making excursions into Round Prairie Park, Eldon, Lake Darling and other places. Local organizations and businesses such as Jefferson County Pork Producers, Mike and Nikki’s, and Fairfield Elks are hosting meals for the group.

Welcher said 150 people had registered for the event as of Tuesday. He said high gas prices are discouraging some typical attendees from coming to Fairfield.

“The gas prices have more than tripled since our last rally,” Welcher said, who mentioned that the event had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021.

The event features Dodge Power Wagons built between 1941-1971. Dodge built its first civilian power wagon in 1946, designed for troops coming home from the war who had become accustomed to driving Dodge vehicles overseas.

Welcher said the event attracts people from all over the country, from states such as Vermont, California, Texas, Idaho and Washington. It even attracts international visitors from countries such as Canada, France, Mexico and others in Latin America.

“Over the years, people have developed kindred spirits with each other, because this really is like a family,” he said. “It’s like a family reunion for people who love old Dodge trucks, and they keep coming back because they want to see each other, and maybe show off their truck.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com