They come from all parts of the country to Britt for this weekend’s 104th National Hobo Convention. Besides entertainment, the hoboes and other festival participants are helping with a number of fundraising activities for the new Hobo Museum in Britt. Organizers hope to build a new facility to house the timeless treasures of life on the railroads. Working against stereotype, the modern hoboes say it’s not widely known that their predecessors held temporary jobs such as farm hands and craftsmen to make their way across the land. Today’s hobos are the migrant workers harvesting seasonal produce. “Baloney Kid” says hobos come from all walks of life, and he says they’re a lot of fun. He likes to tell stories, like the one about his hobo name. Baloney Kid says the colorful names describe colorful people. Connecticut Shorty, whose father “Connecticut Slim” lived most of his life on the rails, gives some advice about what she’s learned in her own travels. The National Hobo Convention runs through Sunday in Britt.
