SENECA - The Ridge and Valley Rally will once again take place in Seneca on Saturday, July 8.
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 8 is as follows:
6:30 to 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
Tim and Barb Boland have been selected as King and Queen of the 2016 Ridge and Valley Rally.
“We’re honored to be chosen for this role in the event,” Barb Boland said. “We are dedicated to Seneca, and it is our duty as citizens to support our community.”
Tim Boland was born in rural Seneca, the son of Dan and Rita Boland. The Bolands operated a dairy farm on Highway 27 between Seneca and Mt. Sterling that is now operated by Boland’s nephew, Don Boland, as a grassfed dairy operation.
Barb Boland was born and raised in Reedsburg. The two have been married for 25 years, and lived in Janesville before Tim retired in 2001 from the Chrysler Corporation. Barb continues to work for H&R Block. They moved back to Seneca in 2001.
The Bolands are active in their community through the Lions Club, their church, and the Seneca Area School District.
“Anything that needs to be done in the community, we try to pitch in and help,” Barb said.
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,” Barb noted.
The Community Club puts out flowers around town, funds scholarships for graduating seniors in the community, and helps to pay for the annual holiday decorations.
“We’re excited about the event,” Barb said. “Our kids are coming home for the weekend, and it’s always a fun day for the community. The event is good, low-cost, fun for families and it raises money for lots of good things in the community.”
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 to 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.
