That settles it
Farnhamville’s Old Settlers Day offers variety of entertainment for young and old
FARNHAMVILLE — Bill and Donna Schneider, of Gowrie, didn’t bring anything to collect candy in Saturday when they went to the Old Settlers Day parade in Farnhamville.
They improvised — he picked up the candy, she collected it in an upside-down flying disc.
“I was not expecting to get any candy at all,” she said.
The unexpected windfall might have something to do with the couple having lots of friends in the parade.
“He knows everyone,” she said.
Plans for the disc full of goodies are still up in the air.
“I was going to give it to the grandkids,” she said. “Maybe.”
For Angel Benfield, of Gowrie, coming to Farnhamville for the day was a homecoming of sorts. She grew up in the community.
“It’s always fun seeing who you can see when you come back,” she said. “My sister still lives here, we come down often.”
Among her group of family members was her daughter, Harper Benfield, 20 months.
“We’re going to go to the park to see what’s going on,” Angel Benfield said. “Maybe get Harper’s face painted.”
The motif?
“Her room is all unicorns,” she said. “We’ll see what they have.”
Gary Griffin, of San Angelo, Texas, watched the parade with his boxer Graci.
A collection of tossed candy was building up on the pavement around him, tempting Graci. He let her have a frozen treat though.
“I let her have the ice,” he said. “She doesn’t get anything else. Hopefully some of the kids will come over and get it.”
Griffin was visiting with his wife Penny. She was attending her class reunion.
He might be in trouble though, as he couldn’t recall which year she graduated.
“No,” he said quietly.
The Old Settlers Day celebration also includes a host of fun events in the Farnhamville City Park including a lunch, pie auction and a car show.
Jennifer Hansen, of Schaller, was helping her husband, Wayne Hansen, polish up his black 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner.
“We’re still cleaning,” she said. “We have lots of friends here. It’s lots of fun, we’ll have a good time.”
The Region V Hazmat team had their truck there too. Fort Dodge firefighters Mike Wiltzius and Andy Midtling helped Michele Jackson, 12, of Farnhamville, try on a bright green hazardous materials suit.
She had already had some fun.
“I watched the parade,” she said. “I got a ton of candy.”
Getting into the suit requires sitting on a chair and getting some help from the firefighters. It’s sized for an adult plus an airpack for breathing inside.
It’s essentially a greenhouse.
“It’s definitely hot,” she said. “I was definitely well protected though.”
She might give firefighting a look as a career choice, she’s already considering the Air Force.
“I want to do something to better help the world,” she said.
Graydon Gustofson, of Callender, had just enjoyed lunch when he decided to try out the picture board set up.
The former Farnhamville resident was enjoying his day.
“I’m meeting people I haven’t see for a long time,” he said, then added wryly, “I have to go to the cemetery for some of them.”