For John and Monica Davis, of the Friendship Wagon Train, touring the beautiful
countryside of southeastern Minnesota has been more than just a fun summer activity.
Since 1985, the Davis family has been participating in wagon trains across the state.
The Friendship Wagon Train started when John Davis became aware of a wagon train
that was hosted by Camp Courage, a camp for children and adults with disabilities.
Soon after becoming involved with the Camp Courage Wagon Train, John and Monica
decided to start their own wagon train to raise money for additional organizations. John
and Monica Davis are now celebrating their 38th year of the Friendship Wagon Train.
The goal of each wagon train has always been to raise money to support organizations
that serve individuals with disabilities. Throughout the years, they have raised
thousands of dollars for multiple organizations, including Camp Courage, Camp
Friendship, Camp Winnebago, and, most recently, the Minnesota Special Olympics.
The Friendship Wagon Train has become a family tradition. Not only are members of
the Davis family involved, including their grandkids, but many individuals come back to
travel with the Friendship Wagon Train year after year. Jollene Gundermann from
Waseca is one of them. She greatly enjoys the wagon-train life and has been doing it
since 1986. She loves reconnecting with the Friendship Wagon Train members and
watching the children grow up from year to year. Gundermann says as long as she can
still ride, she will continue to be involved in the wagon-train tradition.
In addition to local Minnesotans, many people from out of state come every year. This
year, individuals came from Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, and
Iowa. Karen Gohn and her husband, Michael, travel from Tennessee each year. Karen
loves the scenery she gets to see as she travels through the Minnesota countryside.
She also greatly enjoys the people and says, “it gets to be like a family.” Tina and Curt
Leis are also committed wagon train travelers. Tina says, “[the] first time we came, we
knew we wanted to come a lot.” The commitment and camaraderie displayed by each of
the members of the Friendship Wagon Train is another reason the organization is so
special.
Monica Davis notes that people come to travel not only because they enjoy it, but also
because the Friendship Wagon Train rides for a good cause. Monica says she is proud
of the results that they see, raising between $25,000-$30,000 each year for the cause.
The Friendship Wagon Train takes a different route in southern Minnesota every
summer. This means they can see new sites and connect with different communities in
southern Minnesota. They work with local churches and community groups to help
provide meals and other services along the trail. Connecting with local individuals and businesses is another way the Friendship Wagon Train has made such an impact in the past 38 years.
Early morning, the Friendship Wagon Train is up and moving, sending the trailers and vehicles ahead to the next destination. After breakfast, the rest of the company prepares to saddle up. As the horses and mules were saddled and hooked to the wagons, you could feel excitement in the air. A mule would bray, and a horse would answer back, starting a small chorus of livestock in response. At 8:15 am, the Friendship Wagon Train lined up and headed down the road towards Skyberg for lunch. They set off at a steady pace of 3 mph.
If you would like to donate to the Friendship Wagon Train and support the Minnesota
Special Olympics, or if you are interested in joining the Friendship Wagon Train, contact
John and Monica Davis at 507-365-8064 or Monica Davis at 507-696-1418. All
donations are appreciated.
This was the 2026 Schedule and Route
• June 19: Volunteers assemble at Cannon Valley Fairgrounds in Cannon Falls, MN.
• June 20: Cannon Falls → Stanton (lunch) → Transburg farm near Northfield.
• June 21: Transburg farm → Nerstrand (lunch) → Kenyon.
• June 22: Kenyon → West Concord (lunch) → Dodge Center.
• June 23: Layover in Dodge Center with public wagon rides available.
• June 24: Dodge Center → Claremont (lunch) → Owatonna fairgrounds.
• June 25: Owatonna → Meriden (lunch) → Waseca fairgrounds.
• June 26: Waseca → Wilton (lunch) → New Richland.
• June 27: Final ceremony in New Richland to present donations to Special Olympics Minnesota
Local organizations such as Lions Clubs, churches, American Legion groups, FFA, and 4H clubs provide meals and support along the route. Fire departments assist with water supply, and communities host evening camps for the volunteers The public is encouraged to watch the wagons, interact with participants, and purchase souvenirs like hats and t-shirts from the Peddler Wagon The wagon train has been active for over 34 years, raising more than half a million dollars for Special Olympics Minnesota. Each year, the event draws teams from multiple states, including Minnesota, Tennessee, South Dakota, North Dakota, Illinois, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Wagons vary in design, from traditional wooden wheels to modified vehicles, and participants range from long-time volunteers to new drivers.
