The parade got underway and the New Holland/FFA/Michael Peterson/Chevy float was one of the main attractions.
I followed along and shot a couple video clips for you.
You can watch one here that shows almost all of the participants in the parade: 
CMA Chevrolet Parade (5 min WMV)
Here’s a shorter clip with just the FFA float: CMA Chevrolet Parade (30 sec WMV)
Tractors weren’t the only vehicles in today’s parade.
There were bass boats too. I’m not sure who was on board this one. I know her shirt says “Coyote Ugly.”
If you know, then post the answer in a comment.
Just prior to the start of today’s parade Michael Peterson posed for a number of pictures. I’ve got them all and will make them part of my end of the event photo album.
Here he’s on the New Holland tractor with an FFA member who’s name I didn’t get. If you know it, please use the comment feature to let us know who he is. Also pictured on the left is Jimmy Wayne.
Here you can see that New Holland and the Country Music Association are tied together. This tractor will be signed by the participants in Sunday’s Michael Peterson Celebrity Boomer Tractor Race.
Then the tractor will be auctioned off on Ebay and the proceeds will go to charity. This should be interesting since we just got to see the course this afternoon and let’s say that “it’s not flat” eventhough it’s in a downtown parking lot. This should be interesting.
Before things kicked off today Michael Peterson checked out the tractors. Here he’s looking over the New Holland TZ22D which will be part of Sunday’s big race. I’ll have more on this later.
I got Michael to walk over to a shady spot for a couple minutes for the first of several interviews I plan to do with him over the next several days.
To get us started he explains why he’s here. You can listen to our interview here: 
Michael Peterson Interview (3 min MP3)
Michael Peterson posed with the FFA members who took part in today’s parade.
I interviewed FFA member Lindsey Farris (third from left) prior to the parade. She was very excited to be here eventhough it was 90 degrees and those blue jackets weren’t made for the sun.
You can listen to Lindsey here: Lindsey Farris Interview (1 min MP3)
Michael Peterson, country star, makes friends wherever he goes. Prior to today’s parade I caught him with James McCormick, Sales Mgr. for Nashville Tractor (l) (Michael’s center) and New Holland area Field Sales Representative, Mitch Poole (r).
James drove the tractor that pulled the hay wagon in the parade. You’ll get to see his expertise in an upcoming video I’ve got for you.
Okay. I’m back. Had my steak and it was awesome. Now it’s time to catch you up on the New Holland happenings here at CMA Music Fest.
The kickoff event was a Chevrolet parade. This parade featured a number of stars in various Chevy vehicles, including a hay wagon pulled by a New Holland tractor and loaded with FFA members. Here’s the tractors just arriving. The larger one pulled the wagon and the other one will be signed by the celebreties participating in Sunday’s tractor race.
Hello from Nashville. This blogging experience began today at the Country Music Association building where I picked up my media credentials. From there it was off to the parade and I’ll have many more posts coming your way this evening, including audio and video.
For now though, it’s off to enjoy a big fat steak. Then I’ll have enough energy to blog away.
It’s great to see agricultural advertising get noticed in the trade media. Take this post on Adrants. Steve noticed that New Holland is hip and that Colle+McVoy is responsible. You’ll be seeing just how hip, or should I say, “country,” New Holland is in coming days right here.
The Adrants post was for a series of print ads. You can view them from links on the blog post. BTW. I’m glad to see Colle+McVoy using an RSS feed on their website. I’m subscribed now so I can automatically get their agency news updates without using email!
