Tractor Show Wedding Proposal

Ok guys... I know this might get a lot of mixed reviews (Like, "congrats!", and, "no, don't do it!") Lol, but I have been "himming and hawing" about this for a long time... This years tractor show that I am attending is going to be quite special, as I plan on proposing to my girlfriend. I have already contacted the show administrators and they are on board and are even willing to play along. But I have run into some issues.. I guess I am looking for opinions. So here is my plan:

It is her first show, so this summer I have been slowly easing her into learning to operate machinery safely. As of now she is comfortable driving Grandpa's Case SC, as it steers (for her) quite a bit easier than my Unstyled A. My plan was to stage a "breakdown/stall" in the middle of the parade route right in front of the announcer's stand (her on the Case, me in front on the JD). The announcer would even play along. I figured I would get her to pull around me and begin to strap up the tractors, and just as she is about to tow me away I would drop the big question.. I plan on having a photographer in the audience, capturing the moment along with her parents, my parents, and maybe some friends.

The only problem is I don't have a "quick way" to shut down the A without turning the gas off - unless maybe I turn the idle down to a point where I can literally close the throttle and stall it out.

So I guess what I am thinking or wondering is do you think this would work? The show admin is on board, but they want it to be as 'swift' as possible, being that it is going to be in the middle of the parade. I have some other ideas (such as having each member of our family/friends hold up a sign as we come up the main drag and then stopping at the last sign and dropping down). I'm just trying to do this as quickly as possible without impeding too much of the normal operation, but at the same time capturing the element of surprise.

I'd like to do it at the show, simply because I don't think it has ever been done! Any input is appreciated!

Are you 110% sure that she will say yes? This could be a bit awkward, so I am sorry to bring it up.
Zach

Congratulations.

You might consider full choke on the carburetor.

Yeah it would! Beggin in front of a crowd ain't easy!
I run a grounde switch someplace where you can reach it easy and just shut it off.

Shucks, go for it ! If she says no than you know it wasn't meant to be anyway !! I'll lay odds she will say "YES". And be sure to relay the results here on YT......Jim in N. M.

Well, if it is an easy starting tractor, you could just stop it, put it in high gear, idle it down as low as it goes, and then hold the brakes and choke it, plus it would look like you were just a crappy driver and stalled it... Hope it works out for you! Bryce

Am I sure? Yes. Ha ha.. The question is, and I have asked her... Can you deal with tractors and motorcycles the rest of your life? Ha ha. She claims she can!

I would have to fab a choke rod in order to reach it from the seat. Not all too difficult, though!

sounds like a plan. Just make sure she isn't too close when you stop. If she hits you. you may not be in the mood to ask her. I'm sure that wouldn't happen. Have fun. Stan

That could make some of the parade drivers upset - and could cause an accident. Just a suggestion: Could you arrange with the annoucer to call you both back to the podium at the end of the parade for a "Special Award" - then do your proposal where it will be safer?

You could do a 'Berma Shave' type deal! 3 family members, spread out abit before the announcer, each holding 1 word-her name, will, you, and then you could unfurl 'marry me' right in front of the announcer! Biggest problem is she will not get the tractor stopped safely and wont be able to continue the parade!

I think its a great idea. I'm not a mechanic, so no suggestions on how to "stall" the tractor.

Be sure to post some photos!

It would be best to be the last 2 in the parade.Then she'd have to stop.

we had it happen this past year at our show

it was very cool
proposal

Cool video. Thanks for sharing. I'll be talking to the show administrators tonight again about it to try to dial in the plans.

That is a good point. If I was at the end of the parade, not only would she have to stop, but it wouldn't upset the other drivers, either. Even though I think most people would enjoy the moment.

I've already spoken to my cousin who is a professional photographer, and she is more than willing to do the "hidden camera" work. I even thought about having a second view from my GoPro camera - I could try to mount it somehow on my tractor and video the whole event.

I proposed to a lady at a tractor show, expecting the best. Her husband said that if I didn't knock it off, he'd call the cops on me, and did. His lawyer sent me a letter stating that I'm not to get within 1,000 of her, at her request. I was in the 5th grade at the time, and she was my favorite teacher until they made me go to another school, a special one with guards in another county. But that was years ago and I'm out now and feeling much, much better. They say as long as I take my medication, she'll be safe.

Good luck, and I wish you the best.

Mark

I did not read everything but a question. Do you know for certain that she will say yes? Could it be not now, perhaps later but just not now or could it turn out to be a NO. Unless you are absolutely certain it will be a yes as in she has said yes to different ways. There are times you think she would be ready to say yes but she is thinking not now but if that would be what she is thinking she would have to say yes and would be mad at you and probably in a couple of months break up with you as in thinking you are turning into a control freak. I would say do it in private so if it does not go the way you want there is no embarsement for either you or her. I say no way do it that way. And I have been married for 36 years. I say forget that thought so you can have a happy marriage.

Rig a wire to the mag to ground it out when you get ready to stop it. A toggle switch with one side to ground and the other side to mag will do it.

It's easy, just reach over and yank the plug wires out of the mag. P.S. Mark them first in case she say "NO" and you have to beat a hasty exit.

I've heard it said that public proposals are a bad idea. Are you 100% sure she'll say yes? It would be mighty embarrassing if she turned you down. Also, she might feel pressured and say yes just to get you back on the tractor, then back out of the deal later on-and feel resentment towards you.

You know her a lot better than I do. If she's the type that likes to do this sort of thing, and you're 100% sure she'd say yes, go for it.

Then again, I'm divorced, so what the $#@& do I know about women?

I know a guy who proposed at the tractor show, right before we got in our combines for the demo derby, right up front of the grandstands.....she said yes.....and about 3 months into the deal, I never thought it would last. They fought like cats and dogs.....seem to be getting along good now.....only took them about 5 years to get along.....lol