Little red wagon tradition continues

The night before Christmas, two little red wagons were delivered to the winners of the thirteenth annual wagon giveaway.
Sophia Zollman in Bedford was the lucky recipient of the first wagon, and a second wagon was delivered to Owen Still in Mount Ayr.
John Campbell and Dan Cunning started the little red wagon giveaway in 2011, to bring a little more Christmas spirit back to Mount Ayr. Cunning Insurance Company was located along the north side of the Mount Ayr Square at that time.
The pair solicited donations from all the business in Mount Ayr to pay for the first wagon, and drawing boxes were placed around town where most people visited.
Initially, one wagon was given away each year beginning in 2011. Kelcie Barnes from Tingley was the first winner announced in the Mount Ayr Record News, and early sponsors included Tyler Insurance Services, Cunning Insurance Co Inc, Wm. H. French Agency, Shafer Insurance Agency, Klejch Insurance and Real Estate, Ringgold County Farm Bureau and South Central Iowa Realty.
Lynn Rinehart originally played the role of Santa, but Campbell noted one year was particularly cold and believes they “froze him out.”
They started giving away two wagons each year after Steve and Sue Trullinger began helping with the little red wagon giveaway.
Although Steve has enjoyed playing the role of Santa Claus for over 40 years, Sue joined him as Mrs. Claus seven years ago, the year the couple got married.

Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by the paper office in December as they visited businesses around the square, while pulling one of the Little Red Wagons they planned to give away. Diagonal Progress and Mount Ayr Record-News staff members (L-R) Jennifer Kellner, Michael Edwards, Lora Stull, Darrell Dodge, and Tom Hawley paused production of the paper to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.