The Ridge and Valley Rally will once again take place in Seneca on Saturday, July 9.
The Rally is an annual tradition that offers fun for the whole family.
Rally schedule
The schedule of events at the Ridge and Valley Rally to be held in Seneca, on Saturday, July 9 is as follows:
6:30-7 a.m. Run/Walk Registration
7:30 a.m. 5K/10K Walk/Run
11 a.m. Parade
Noon Smoked Pork Chop Dinner
1 p.m. Pie Auction
1 p.m. Antique Tractor Pull
4 p.m. Euchre Tournament
4 p.m. Bean Bag Tournament
There will be volleyball games throughout the day, and kids activities will follow the parade.
Rally Royalty
Artie and Debbie Johnson, the third generation owners and operators of Johnson’s One Stop, have been selected as King and Queen of the 2016 Ridge and Valley Rally.
“We love being part of the community, and appreciate all the individuals that make it up,” said Debbie. “We are very grateful to have this community to live in.”
Artie and Debbie are the co-owners of the store, and before that the store was owned and operated by Artie’s father Jerry Johnson, and before that by his grandfather Bob Johnson, who founded the store.
The store was originally primarily focused on supplying the needs of the local farming community, but as the number of area farmers dwindled, the store innovated and became a premier provider of building materials.
The grocery department is also a key highlight of the store with a recently expanded footprint. They continue to offer premier quality meats, and have recently made upgrades to their fresh produce section.
Each year, the Seneca Community Club selects community members as the Rally Royalty based on commitment and involvement in the community.
“The funds raised by the Ridge and Valley Rally are put to good use in our community,” said Debbie. The Community Club puts out flowers around town in the spring for all of us to enjoy, and this event brings all of us in the community together at least once a year. It’s wonderful to see everyone,” said Debbie.
In 2015, the funds raised at the event were also used to fund scholarships for graduating seniors in the community.
“In my opinion, the Johnsons are very community-minded people who are interested in both the community as well as the individuals who make up the community,” said Myrna Stevenson, major event organizer and on the committee which selected the king and queen.
Johnson’s One Stop is well known for the fundraiser brat stand out in front of the store, and less well known for their many other charitable donations and volunteer efforts in the community.
Debbie Johnson shared a quiet pride, and a strong humility when she said, “I don’t want to spend my time tooting our horn. We care about our community, and we try to plug in broadly, often behind the scenes, to help our town and area do well.”
The Johnson’s have a long history of support for the Seneca School District, and for the local churches, including the Mt. Sterling Lutheran Church they belong to.
They have also been involved in supporting groups and causes like the Eastman First Responders and the benefit for the family of the girls who lost their lives in a fire in Wauzeka, just to name a few.
Safe to say, Seneca is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, and the Johnsons are part of what makes Seneca great.
Run/Walk planned
The 5K/10K Run/Walk will head out Taylor Ridge Road into hilly and beautiful country,” says organizer Myrna Stevenson. “Typically, we get about 75-100 participants.”
Registration runs from 6:30 to 7 a.m. so plan on getting up early and taking advantage of the cool morning air to get some exercise and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
Everyone loves a parade
Line up for the parade starts at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and participants should plan to arrive by 10:30 a.m.
The parade is always a good time for families, and there is no fee for entering, no judging, and no prizes.
Antique Tractor Pull
“Our tractor pull is a pretty laid back event,” says organizer Ron Hartley. “We group the tractors by size as best we can, and we use an old fashioned stone boat sled, where people step on it as the tractor is pulling.”
Participants should assemble after the parade, and things will get going shortly after that and no later than 1 p.m.
Participants are asked to bring their tractors as they were manufactured and to not add extra weight. There is no fee for entry.
Euchre and Bean Bags
The Euchre and the Bean Bag Tournaments will both take place at 4 p.m. at the Seneca Town Hall.
For the Euchre Tournament, “participants should arrive by 3:30 p.m. You don’t have to bring a partner, but you should bring quarters to use as euchres,” says event organizer Betty Lynch. The entry fee will be $6.
Bean bags will be provided for the Bean Bag tournament.
“Participants should bring their own partner, and plan to arrive by 3:30 p.m.,” says event organizer Owen Du Charme.
All in all, the Ridge and Valley Rally is good, wholesome, clean fun for the entire family in the beautiful ridge top community of Seneca, located along Highway 27 in Crawford County. Be sure to mark your calendars and make your way up there! You’ll be glad you did.
