Here comes the parade

Jul. 15—GREENSBURG — The "Celebrating Tom Swain Memorial Showmanship 50th Anniversary" fair parade was held Sunday.

Nearly an hour-long line-up of screaming firetrucks, hay wagons and sharp rides began creeping down Park Road at 3 p.m. and received an abrupt "cooling off" shortly after.

But Decatur County loves a parade and a county fair and so attendance was up and so was the excitement.

The theme of the spectacle this year was the Tom Swain Competition, the yearly capper to the Decatur County 4-H Fair. Swain worked for many years in the local agriculture and 4-H communities before his death in a tragic automobile accident that claimed the life of Swain and his two sons in 1973.

The competition focuses on the sportsmanship element of working with farm animals as 4-H students trek their way to their 10th year mark. The contest was named in Swain's honor for the tireless work Swain devoted to local 4-H youth.

Mrs. Joyce (Swain) Kisner, the Director of the Tom Swain Contest in its 50th year, rode up front in a sleek burgundy Ford.

Tossing candy was acceptable, as was campaigning for the upcoming elections, so children, local candidates, and families of all shapes and sizes got to enjoy the fun.

Decatur County 4-H Queen Kaylee Smith had a smile for everyone as she rode atop her gold convertible, dressed in a bright purple gown.

She was followed shortly after by Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Alexxys Standish in a silvery teal import.

Hundreds of volunteers for the major candidates in November's elections tossed every kind of candy to kids waiting eagerly to scramble for free (slightly warm) parade booty.

And as is typical for summer in these parts, the deluge of nearly 1.5 inches wasn't unexpected, but it did ramp up the fun.

Traffic at the intersections of Park Road and S CR Road 200 W along with S CR Road 200 W and SR 46 became instant traffic jams with Sheriff's Deputies frantically waving their arms to control the explosion of drenched, wet traffic, both walking and riding.

Shortly after the melee, the midway opened and the merriment continued late into the evening.

And what was this yearly craziness all for?

...because Decatur County loves a county fair, especially on Parade Night.

Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email [email protected].