News : Iowa\'s famous Hillbilly Bob visited Garrison Fun Day

Hillbilly Bob Hill uses a goat to inflate balloons for two girls at Garrison Fun Day Saturday.

Hillbilly Bob honors his Grandma Bertha Hill with this photo in his car Ruthie.

Hillbilly Bob has traveled 300K miles; says he is trying to get his own zip code.

The view of the back of Ruthie, Hillbilly Bob's 1929 Model A.

Bob loves his pandolin, an instrument made from a bed pan.

Bob's new companion, a hunting squirrel, has already made the front page of newspapers.

Gov. Terry Branstad rode in it in a parade. Nebraska Governor and Senator Ben Nelson, too. And Toby Keith. And Jeff Foxworthy.

The people who went to the Garrison Fun Day and saw “Ruthie,” the rusty 1929 Model A that is decked out in a variety of humorous hillbilly decorations may not have guessed that they were looking at a celebrity act that has entertained thousands at county fairs, parades and other events in 41 states.

But Hillbilly Bob and his car have indeed become that famous. A stuffed squirrel in an orange hunter’s outfit was pictured, said Bob, on the front page of the Dallas Morning News. Dozens of newspapers have included stories and photos of Bob and Ruthie

It all began about 20 years ago, when Bob rebuilt Ruthie. Then he decided to add a couple of humorous items, people began noticing. So he added more stuff, and received more attention.

“The badder it looked, the better they liked it,” says Bob.

Now, the car is so full of hillbilly relics that there is barely room for Bob to sit; but that’s okay because there is also a tractor seat attached to the front bumper. Bob calls it his fishing perch.

A variety of signs with hillbilly themes cover the car, especially the back window. Inside the back seat are photos of some of Bob’s ancestors, including his Grandma Bertha Hill and his Great-Grandfather Hill. Bob lives on the family farm which also includes the cemetery where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were buried. Someday, says Bob, he will be laid to rest near them.

One of the new additions to Ruthie is a hunting squirrel, holding a gun and wearing blaze orange. The squirrel rests atop a Bible between the front seats.

A mailbox has been attached to the side; Bob says he is still trying to get his own zip code. That makes sense, considering that he has hauled Ruthie more than 300,000 miles in the past two decades.

Bob’s first bike, which his father made, and his dad’s old ice skates, are also among the items attached to the back of the car.

One of Bob’s favorite toys is the goat that blows up balloons, which he gives to children. Another his is pandolin, a guitar made from a bedpan.

Ruthie also has “Meals on Wheels,” an area under the hood where Bob says he can cook an egg in a skillet, using the heat from the engine.

Hillbilly Bob also uses his Ruthie and his unique traveling show to share his faith as a Christian. See one story about Bob's faith HERE.