JOLIET, Ill. — What was to be the 13th yearly trek of the Heritage Tractor Adventure (HTA) has been canceled for June because of a medical condition experienced by HTA Chair Mary Beth DeGrush, of the Heritage Corridor Convention Visitors Bureau in Joliet.

Vintage tractor owners and collectors may wish to participate instead in an interesting tractor parade and accompanying events put on by the city of Streator, to mark Farm/Ag Day July 25. Known as the Clyde Pride Tractor Ride, the event at Streator City Park will feature a parade of vintage tractors through the municipality, plus a show and other activities.

To participate, contact Ed Brozak at the Streator Visitors Bureau at 815-672-2055.

Between 150-300 vintage and antique tractors have taken part in the annual HTA since its inception in 2002. The run was modeled after a highly successful similar event in Des Moines in the mid-1990s.

The cavalcade was devised as a novel means to show visitors to Grundy, LaSalle, Will and Kendall counties a good time, and to educate urbanites on the region’s agriculture and its connection with the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The HTA was postponed for a year in 2014 due to budgetary issues, but was being scheduled to roll on the three-day trek in June this year. But DeGrush suffered a stroke on Jan. 23 and was still in rehabilitation in April – looking forward to next year’s HTA run instead.

“Sometimes life throws you a curve ball,” she wrote in an April 2 cancelation letter to those planning to participate in this year’s run. “Needless to say, (the stroke) has put HTA plans behind. I feel badly because I know everyone was looking forward to getting together after a year off. I know I have missed you.

“Well, we are going to borrow a mantra from Cubs’ fans: ‘Wait until next year!’

“Streator is hosting a Farm/Ag day in July (25) with agriculture displays, meat provided by local beef producers, live entertainment, crafts, beer tasting and a parade through Streator,” she added. “So, sign up today for a fun-filled day with old friends and tractors.”

A spokesman for the Heritage Corridor Visitors Bureau said the organization is not taking part in the Streator event; however, it is being offered to those interested in participating in some type of a vintage tractor ride. The HTA has paraded through Streator several times on past runs and sponsored evening programs which included Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson, both nationally known agriculture broadcasters.

 “We’re checking on dates for the HTA in 2016,” the spokesman said. “But right now we’re taking it one day at a time. This year we will not be doing the run. Right now, we put it on a hold.”

No one else has stepped up and offered to take charge of the HTA for this year, the spokesman said. “We just decided to put it off this year, though.”

The HTA was Illinois’ first vintage tractor trail ride. The ride began on June 10, 2002, with Armstrong leading the drivers in the slowest lap ever run at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. This run also was a first for the Speedway.