Toddler Joyrides Toy Tractor to County Fair Without Parents’ Permission

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a leisurely ride around town – motor running, the wind blowing through your hair. That’s exactly what one Chisago County, Minnesota resident decided to do this week. The county fair had just opened and he decided to head down and check it out for himself.
The only problem is that the particular fairgoer was just two and a half years old.
At 6:51 pm, County dispatchers received a call regarding a toddler who had gone missing from his home. Within minutes, he was located and reunited with his parents, but the story of how he got there took a little longer to flush out.
Living just a few blocks from the fairgrounds, the young boy had watched as rides began rolling into town this week in preparation for the annual festivities. On opening night, the adventurous little tyke took out his little battery-powered John Deer tractor and set out on his way to check things out for himself.
Navigating down a sidewalk and through a back entrance to the fairgrounds, the young boy then maneuvered through crowds, eventually working his way over to the tilt-a-whirl. That’s where State Representative Brian Johnson, a former Isanti County Deputy, noticed the unaccompanied child and alerted an on-duty officer to the situation. The boy’s father rushed to the scene and was reunited with the little rebel.
Authorities say the entire situation happened very quickly, a reminder to parents that these types of things can happen in an instant. While the precocious preschooler is now home, safe and sound, reports indicate his license has been suspended until further notice.