LEROY -- The largest wagon train of its kind is camped on a summer's night near downtown LeRoy.

The Friendship Wagon Train had arrived in town. All 22 wagons and teams of horses and mules made it through another hot and humid day.

The livestock is grazing in the cool dusk darkness. The wagons as well as trailers and campers are formed in a wide circle near the Ampride Convenience Store in Leroy.

Adults relax in lawn chairs, talking softly. Children and teenagers play a game of football in the center of the ring of trail riders.

The smell of horses and horse apples is in the air.

Not to mention the best of the human spirit.

"Last year we raised $28,900 for Camp Winnebago and this year I believe we're going to top it. In fact, I'm sure we will be the time we get there Friday night," said John Davis, the wagon master.

Davis is the man who attended a Caledonia Lions Club meeting one night in 1999 and suggested a wagon train to raise money for Camp Winnebago, an outlet for the energies of

developmentally disabled children and teenagers. "They really didn't know a lot about the place themselves, so I think we have helped in two ways by raising money for Camp Winnebago and by raising awareness When the Friendship Wagon Train rolls, they know its for a good cause and that's Camp Winnebago," Davis said.

Who are these people? Claude King of Pine Island does look like Buffalo Bill Cody.

It's as much the hat, a 10-gallon Stetson, as well as the handle-bar moustache and long sideburns on his high-cheeked, angular face that fits his nickname, "Buffalo Bill."

Bill is standing among a group of men, talking seriously. Denny Nepsted of Byron smiles. Nado Bernad of Stewartville clothes the reins of Dakota, who looks bored.

Reuben Svoboda of Montgomery joins the group.

Mr. Svoboda is on his 15th wagon train and once again driving a team of mules, Molly and Gene.

His wife, Carol, drives the support wagon.

A reporter asks, "Why do you do it? Why do you go on the wagon train each summer?"

Buffalo Bill seems almost insulted. "Why, we go for the handicapped children at Camp Winnebago. That's why," he said.

The others all nod their heads in agreement.

Apparently deciding the answer will stand up, they return to a more important topic that night: the relative merit of horses or mules.

Svoboda is out-numbered. The others all drive horses.

So, the reporter ambles off to find wagonmaster Davis.

"JD" is the founder of the Friendship Wagon Train. It was his idea to help raise funds for Camp Winnebago near Caledonia in Houston County.

"It's been an exceptional trail ride," said JD. "We're getting donations from private individuals and bossiness like you wouldn't believe.:

"Why just the other night when we camped at Adams, they gave us a check for $1,096 Wasn't that nice of them"

he said rhetorically.

JD and his wife Monica, and their son, Dustin, 6, will forever be linked to the Friendship Wagon Train. JD and Monica were married at harmony and sometime later, Monica was pregnant with their son, Dustin, when they made another ride across Minnesota to Camp Winnebago.

"It's something we believe in," said JD&gt

This year, the Friendship Wagon Train attracted a couple from New York, two couples from Alabama, a couple from California and another couple from Indiana.

Frankie Williams, whose think southern accent almost requires an interpreter,

is from Boaz, Alabama "I met JD and his wife six years ago, when they came to Alabama for a wagon ride and I came up herd with my wife a year ago to join the Friendship Wagon Train. It's a good cause," said Williams.

Rolling downt the highway

The Wagon Train left Austin Saturday morning amidst much fanfare. It has not been through Mower County for five years so the Austin departure was significant.

The horse- and muile-drwn traveled to Johnsburg Saturday night and on to Adams for a Sunday night stay-over.

The Austin Daily Herald caught up with the riders Monday night at Leroy.

The yearly amounts have fluctuated each year , but wagonmaster Davis estimates the Friendship Wagon Train has raised over $159,999 in the last 10 years. "At least," he said for emphasis.

By Tuesday night, the riders advanced to the Mike Miller farm north of Lime Springs, Iowa before spending Wednesday night at Harmony and Thursday night at Mabel and tomorrow night's anticipated arrival at Camp Winnebago.

"It's been a good ride for everyone. There really hasn't been that much stress on the animals. We've got a good group of outriders and we've done this before so we know what to do in the case of an emergency," said wagonmaster Davis.

"Even with our biggest number of wagons and horses and people this year, there's haven't been any accidents or incidents . It's just been rolling along smoothly," he said.

Davis, a carpenter by trade, said, "I do it because it's a worthy cause and because it so much fun and you get to meet the nicest people."

Some of the nicest are waiting at Camp Winnebago for their heroes to arrive.

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)