MILLERSBURG —
It was a day for both remembering the past and celebrating the present in Millersburg Saturday afternoon as community members and visitors alike rallied together to kick off day two of the 2012 Farmer’s Days celebration.
With a history stretching back at least 30 years, the Farmer’s Days festival is held annually as a way for Millersburg residents to celebrate their town’s heritage as a close-knit, rural farming community.
Beginning Friday afternoon with a car show, cruise-in, games and entertainment, the event continued bright and early Saturday morning with a pancake and sausage breakfast at 6 a.m. at the Millersburg American Legion. Once full on pancakes and sausage, festival attendees were then able to take in a softball tournament at 7 a.m. before heading downtown once again to grab a seat for the always-popular Farmer’s Days parade.
“Farmer’s Days is a community event that was originally sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, and then it was taken over by the Friends of the Park,” said Millersburg resident Elwood Kauffman. “It’s a rural community, farm community festival that originated with the parade. It’s supported by local businesses, and the community has really rallied around the event and it continues to be successful.”
This year’s festival appeared to be no exception, with a near-record 52 parade entries snaking their way through the downtown as excited onlookers lined the streets, yelling out when they caught a glimpse of their favorites. Included among the winners of this year’s Farmer’s Days parade were the Millersburg Red Hatters, who took Best of Show, and the Millersburg Animal Clinic, which took Best Commercial Entry.
“The turnout is just awesome so far,” said Rita Vanvoorst, head of the 2012 Farmer’s Days event. “We’ve got a long list of music and activities this afternoon over at Cook Station Park to keep people entertained. Then we conclude everything this evening with fireworks when it gets dark.”
Kauffman, a past head of the Farmer’s Days celebration, said he couldn’t be more supportive of these small, annual festivals such as Farmer’s Days that really help to draw a community together.
“It helps us realize that no matter how small community might be, we can still bond together and become a united group of people that look out and care for one another,” Kauffman said. “It’s just a great time.”
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Children take a ride in a makeshift barrel train during the 2012 Farmer’s Days Parade in downtown Millersburg Saturday morning. JOHN KLINE
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Millersburg Red Hatters Society members wave to the crowd during the 2012 Farmer’s Days Parade in downtown Millersburg Saturday afternoon. The group ended up taking the Best of Show award out of a total of 52 parade entries. JOHN KLINE
For about 30 years now, Millersburg's Farmer's Days brings neighbors together
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