KINGSLEY -- It's unclear when Tractor Day started at Kingsley High School, but Tyler Thon knows his brother started it.
Since then -- at least four years ago, maybe eight -- students look forward to the day each year they can leave their cars at home and ride to school on a tractor.
The sun was rising Friday morning when they began to pull into the high school parking lot, blocking off a row for vehicles of various sizes and strengths.
"What school does this?" said Tyler, 16, a sophomore who borrowed his grandfather's brick-red 1941 Farmall. "It'll be a tradition. Next year, my sister will bring it."
The rural village in southern Grand Traverse County has a strong agricultural heritage, high school Principal Terry Street said.
He even took part this year, and drove an orange Kubota tractor that he and his wife use on their small hobby farm about six miles from school.
The trip took about 40 minutes, and Street thought he was making good time -- until a student on a larger vehicle cruised ahead of him.
He laughed.
"All of a sudden, one of those red ones passed me like I was standing still," he said.
That's the thing about tractors: Even when you reach top speed, a trip of a few miles still takes a long time.
Students' cars slowly began to surround the row of tractors that reached 13 by the time class started. The sputter of engines and the distinct smell of diesel fuel hung in the air.
Trophies were awarded for the largest, smallest, oldest and newest vehicles. The awards had orange and black bases, the school's colors, and a small golden tractor adorned the top.
Josh Metcalf's tractor was the largest in the row, "the one with the trophy on the hood."
The high school junior borrowed the green John Deere vehicle from his boss at a local farm. The drive took about an hour.
"It's just a fun day," said Josh, 17. "I'm going bigger each year. Next year, I'm bringing an eight-wheeler."
The morning seemed to be winding down when two tractors chugged into the parking lot amid a line of cars. Students who already had arrived scrambled into their vehicles to make room for the newcomers.
Holding the rear was a Caterpillar backhoe loader, yellow lights flashing. Senior Laura Nickerson, 17, became the only female driver on Tractor Day.
"I've ridden with my brother," she said. "This is the first year I've actually driven in it."
Is it neat being the only girl who participated?
"I think so," Laura said. "It's fun."
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