Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2004
Contact: Kari Speicher, North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 260.982.7644
Bernie Ferringer, Harvest Festival Co-Chair, 260.982.8023
Chamber of Commerce
109 N. Market St.
North Manchester, IN 46962
260.982.7644 office
260.982.8718 fax
nmcc@kconline.com
www.northmanchesterchamber.com

2004 Harvest Festival Offers Family Fun
October 7, 2004

Family-oriented activities and crisp, autumn weather combined to make the 2004 Harvest Festival a success. Hundreds gathered along Main, Mill and Walnut Streets on Saturday, October 2, to join the North Manchester Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the fall season.

The festival began at 7:00 a.m. with a pancake and sausage breakfast sponsored by the United Methodist Church Youth, and continued throughout the day with activities like a petting zoo, sponsored by the Manchester FFA; craft booths; a farmer's market; pumpkin painting; horse and buggy rides, sponsored by The Andersons, Inc.; Autumn Art Fest at the Center for History, sponsored by the North Manchester Historical Society; caricature drawings, sponsored by the Chamber Tourism Committee; child fingerprinting, sponsored by North Manchester Public Safety and the Moose; and square dancing by the Belles and Beaus.

A three way tie consisting of Meghann Kiester, Julia Rodriguez and Wallace Ulrey were the winners of the "Guess the Pigs Weight" Contest with a correct guess of 229 pounds. For their winning guess, they received a gift certificate to Mr. Dave's. The Cow Milking Contest featured a showdown between Denise Miller and Chad Maple of Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Services and Kelly McKee and David Nordmann of DeLaughter-McKee Mortuary. Grandstaff-Hentgen was deemed the victor in that event, a feat for which they were awarded the official "Cow Milking Champion" trophy. Sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance and Manchester Farm Center, the kiddie tractor pull yielded nine winners. Congratulations go to: Lance Bennett, age 4; first place, Gavin Ream, age 3; second place, Delaney Stahl, age 3; third place. Pulling 51 pounds, Jacob Koedyker, age 6, earned the honors of first place in the next division and Jevon Rhoades, age 5; took second place, with Harrison Nettleton, age 6; placing third. In the final division, Krissa Mechling, age10, earned first place by pulling 109 pounds; Marcus Graber, age 10, pulled 92 pounds to attain second place. Third place honors went to Harrison Shepherd, age 10, for pulling 96 pounds.

Bernie Ferringer, 2004 Harvest Festival Co-Chair, was pleased with the end results of this year's festival. "What a great day! "It was cool and rainy early in the day, but by midmorning the sun came out and it was a perfect fall day. One of the largest crowds I have seen in years. People really enjoyed the variety of vendors, took advantage of the good food and had great fun participating or watching the various events throughout the day. Thanks to everyone that helped to make the festival a success."

The Tourism committee would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their role in helping to make Harvest Festival 2004 a success: American Legion, Belles and Beaus, East of Chicago Pizza Company, EMA's (TAP), Farm Bureau Insurance, Hardee's, Lambert's Body Shop, Lance's New Market, Main View, Manchester Elementary School, Manchester Farm Center, Manchester FFA, Mr. Dave's, N.M.Center for History, N. M.Greenhouses, N.M. Parks and Recreation Department, One World Handcrafts, Shire of Dragon's Vale, Shire of Shadowed Stars, The Anderson's, Inc., The Service Station, The Shepherd Center, Tractor Pull volunteers, United Methodist Church, Joe Vogel, Wabash County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Wendel's Décor Shoppe.

In addition, we'd also like to thank the following volunteers: Steve Carter, Dan and Marsha Croner, Bob and Karen Fawcett, Vicki Ferringer, Dan Hannaford, Jeff Hire, Rich and Marcia Jones, Chris and Lisa Kerlin, Tom and Janice Leckrone, Jim Marks, Darrell Penrod, Grant and Monica Richards, Linda Richards, Mark Roser, Jim and Barbara Speicher, Rhonda Swaidner, Larry Swihart and Sandy Williams.

Finally, thank you to the Tourism committee: Todd Richards; Chairman, Mike Brown, Jane Burch, Marsha Croner, Bernie Ferringer, Steve Lambert, Tim Swaidner and Mary Ann Swihart.

The Harvest Festival is sponsored by the Tourism Committee, a division of the North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and a grant from the Wabash County Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

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