SPY’s Community Newsletter
(8/25/24)
Farmer’s Picnic Report #1
On Saturday, the Grand Parade kicked off at noon, themed “Helping Others” and honoring Grand Marshals Tom, Sherrie & Jay Wacha, included the Eaton County Sheriff Department followed by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War carrying the United States Flag and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 2024 Prince is Paxtyn Robins and Princess is Cecelia Salazar and their royal court Aurora McDiarmid, Daisy Juarez, the 2024 Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Alt. Queen Caleigh Koontz, the Lakewood High School Viking Marching Band, dozens of antique tractors, trucks and cars as well as floats representing the Sunfield Historical Society, the Sunfield District Library’s Summer Reading Program "Adventures Begin at Your Library", the Sunfield Community Food and Clothing Bank and Hay Stack Taxi Service/Klotz Family Farms and fire trucks from Sunfield, Vermontville, Odessa Twp., Woodland Twp. and Campbell Twp. participated. Children lining the Village streets scooped up lots of candy.
In the tenth annual float decorating contest, there were three entries. The Sunfield Historical Society won with their entry with Robert Avery driving a tractor pulling a wooden wheel tractor depicting “Helping Hands, Helping Others” with Rosemary and Emily Parker, Levi and Ivy Shattuck and Sandra Meyers, dressed in period clothing washing clothes and waving to the crowd. The Sunfield District Library Reading Program “Adventures Begin in Your Library” float took second place followed by the Sunfield Community Food and Clothing Bank float.
Cornhole Tournament Results
Due to the threatening rain all weekend, the tenth annual Sunfield Farmers Picnic Cornhole Tournament got underway at 10 a.m. inside the Caterpillar Clubhouse gymnasium thanks to the generosity and community spirit of Belinda Gulley. There were a total of 21 teams participating. Tier 1 Division (with 10 teams) winners were 1st place – Team PTC (Adam & Cam Rairigh), 2nd place – Payne Brothers (Nate & Brady Payne) and 3rd place – Tyson & Mark. In the Tier 2 Division (with 11 teams) winners were 1st place – Step Brotherington (Ashton Pfeifer & Seth Stein), 2nd place – High Caliber (Shawn Alcala & partner) and 3rd place – Grease Monkeys (Jerry Sandborn & partner). The annual William Bosworth Memorial Horseshoe Tournament had seven 2-person teams participate. Randy Shepard and Janis Nash placed first; George and Dustin Sutliff placed second and Fred and Carrie Newton placed third.
Adam & Cam Rairigh
Ashton Pfeifer & Seth Stein
Frog Jumping Contest
The Frog Jumping Contest had two categories this year, those that collected and brought their own frog and those that used frogs from the communities’ bucket that were collected by Oren Best. Isiah had the largest frog while RJ had the smallest frog of those who brought their own. The Best Named Frog went to Wesley Brummette with “Little Timmie”. The Winners for those who brought their own frog went to Liam in first place with jumps totaling 120 inches, Isaiah in 2nd place and Wesley in 3rd place. The winners for those who used frogs from the community bucket went to Weston in 1st place, Evelyn in 2nd place and Brayden in 3rd place.
Wesley (3rd place and Best Named frog Little Timmie), Liam (1st place), Isiah (2nd place & largest frog) & RJ (smallest frog)
Brayden (3rd place), Weston (1st place) and Evelyn (2nd place)
Clark Lewis Wows Crowd
Other Highlights
There was the Sunfield Sponsors of Programs for Youth (SPY’s) Dime Pitch booth, Daughters of the Union Veterans Pluck-a-Duck Pond, Spin-The-Wheel game sponsored by Gizzy Downing, Balloon Pop game sponsored by SKY Energy and Mason Rail Time Adventures providing games and rides for children of all ages as well as BINGO for the adults provided by the Portland Area Service Group. Ming the Magician entertained children of all ages under the Big Tent. Heidi Freeman provided face painting and Marbles The Clown created balloon animals for the children. Clark Lewis the Juggler entertained attendees with his juggling, sword swallowing and balancing act. Twenty-eight crafters and/or independent vendors gave the attendees plenty to peruse and six food vendors including Joe’s Gizzard Wagon, Lakewood Wrestling, the Sunfield United Methodist Mint, Mitten Made Lemonade, Ruby Cocina’s (taco truck), Sugar Babies Cotton Candy and Dodie’s Concession Elephant Ears and Lemonade took care of everyone’s enjoyment needs.
The beloved Ox Roast sandwiches sold out quickly. The Sunfield Farmers Picnic 2024 Merchants Raffle third place prize of a Weed Whip was won by Hannah Louthan, second place prize of a Bench donated by Polly Products in Mulliken was won by Robert VanHouten and Mapes Furniture donated an electric recliner chair with a USB charger port that was also won by Robert VanHouten. There were 62 additional prize packages that were awarded throughout the concert of the Papa Clutch band who sang and entertained the audience for nearly two and a half hours. The evening closed out with the singing of the National Anthem and 7.5 minutes of non-stop kick-butt pyro by Pyrotecnico.
There were many volunteers in addition to the members of the Board that helped make this event a memorable one but additional committed individuals would help make lighter work for this successful community event. Please contact the Board at sunfieldfarmerspicnic@gmail.com to offer any future assistance, ideas or to find out more about the event scheduled for August 15-17, 2025. Visit the Sunfield Farmers Picnic Inc Facebook page to see all the photos.
Much, much more to come in the next SPY’s Community Newsletter.
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