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The Threshing Show Parade Saturday, was briefly halted as Jesse LaValla proposed to one of the drivers-- Mandy Irkfetz.  She was operating a 1937 John Deere owned by her mom Karmen Olson-Irkfetz, of Harris.  LaValla stepped into the parade lane and presented the engagement ring and the two embraced and enjoyed the moment.  Another driver took the wheel and put the John Deere into gear so the parade could continue.  Karmen explained later that she told Mandy that she had to be out-of-town during the threshing show and asked if Mandy would drive the tractor for her.  Karmen said all the girls in her family (dad,  Delano Olson) have their own tractors and have been active in this threshing show event.  The whole family was hiding nearby the parade stop and were in on the surprise proposal.  “The two have talked about marriage so we were 99 percent sure it was going to be a yes,” Karmen added.   A September 2017 wedding is the tentative plan.

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