Parade ends Harmony Fair
Monday, September 24, 2012
By Dianne Byers Staff Writer
WESTOVER - Although morning and early afternoon rains made for soggy fairgrounds Saturday, the inclement did nothing to dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people who turned out for the final day of the Harmony Grange Fair.
Shae Harkleroad, fair manager, reported despite a few weather-related glitches, namely a very wet opening day Tuesday, he believed the five days, overall, had gone well. "I was a little nervous when we started off Tuesday the way we ended last year's fair, in the rain. Last year we dealt with a lot of adversity and everyone seemed to be more prepared this year."
Harkleroad gave credit to those who volunteer, both on the fair board, and in numerous positions prior to, during and following fair week. "The support of this community is overwhelming to say the least. It even goes beyond the community, I would say in a hundred-mile radius beyond. People just show up here and ask what they can do to help."
He said a balance is what makes the small fair so attractive to a diverse audience. "We just want to improve and perfect what our parents and grandparents started here. The challenge is keeping our roots yet changing enough to keep things modern. For us this fair is a passion and an honor to help put it on each year."
Saturday's events included the annual parade, which used the theme "Celebrating 100 Years of Rural Heritage" which recognized the agricultural, timber, coal and trucking industries. Each of the trades was recognized throughout the week and representatives of local trucking companies, Fry Brothers Trucking Co., Cherry Tree, Ninosky Transportation Co., LaJose, and Ninosky Trucking Co., LaJose, served as the parade's grand marshals.
The parade winners are, as provided by the parade committee: floats depicting the theme, Jay Dee Farm, first; The Korney family, second; and New Life Fellowship, third; bands, Harmony Area High School marching band, first; walkers, Vernie Harkleroad, first; Madison Pierce, second; Wyatt Pierce, third; and Eric and Minnie, fourth; motorcycles, Josh and Conner Blake, first; Jason Muth, second; Christopher Smeal, third; and Carl Patterson, fourth; all-terrain vehicles, Cody Sral, first; Brian Baker, second; Cody Wissinger, third; and Levi Chilcote, fourth; sports cars, Larry McIntyre, first; Bob Campell, second; and Connie Davis, third; four-wheel drive trucks, Paul McIntyre, first; and Rick Keith, second; classic cars, Joe Peace, first; and Rob Alabran, second; trucks, other, Scott Bouch, first; Ninosky Transport Co., second; Don Clark, third; and Ninosky Transportation Co., fourth; antique cars, Joe Fedele, first; antique tractor, Carrie Muth, first; organizations, Northern Cambria Diamond Twirlers, first; and Cen-Clear Child Services, second; fire trucks, Cherry Tree Volunteer Fire Co., first; pumper truck, Hope Volunteer Fire Co., Northern Cambria, first; ambulance, Hastings Ambulance Service, first; rescue truck, Cherry Tree Volunteer Fire Co., first; utility vehicles, Brandon Beck, first; and Jeanie Beck, second.
|  |
|
|
