SENECA - It’s the 26-year anniversary of the Ridge and Valley Rally scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 2019.

The Ridge and Valley Rally serves another purpose for the Community Club. The event serves as a fundraiser for the club. The money raised at the Ridge and Valley Rally is given back to the community in a variety of ways. For instance, the Seneca Community Club provides flowers for planters, offers scholarships for local students and supports the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department and the Seneca First Responders. In the last few years, the club has also put on a Christmas Dinner.

So what happens at the Ridge and Valley Rally? Well, there’s a little bit of everything and that all starts with the 10K-5K Run-Walk at 7:30 a.m.

The first, second and third place finishers in both the men and women’s divisions of the 5K and 10K race receive awards. There are also awards for the youngest and oldest participants.

A fixture of the event is Jim Uglum who participates every year and jokes about his lack of speed.

And, there are some senior citizens including several people in their 70s who have participated.

The fee is $10 for an adult and $5 for those 12 and under until a week before the event, when the charge is $15 for all ages. Participants get t-shirts on a first-come-first-serve basis until they run out.

The race will begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. between the two ball 
​fields on Taylor Ridge Road. Registration takes place between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.

The parade

Of course the biggest event at the Ridge and Valley Rally is probably the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. and runs down Highway 27. There are lots of entrants in the parade, but the line of classic tractors at the end is pretty impressive. It seems like it might be a half-mile long, when you look up the road. 

After the parade

Following the parade, there’s a very popular smoked pork chop dinner in the Seneca Town Hall. The lunch stand in the shop area is also open for the day.

For the last six or seven years, there is a pie auction following the dinner at 1 p.m. and it has greatly helped in raising money for the Seneca Community Club. Don’t miss it.

Also at 1 p.m., the antique tractor pull gets underway.

A Bean Bag Tournament will take place at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m., there is a Euchre Tournament in the town hall and a Bean Bag Tournament outside. 

Anyone wanting to play Euchre should sign up about a half hour before it starts. There’s a $6 fee and the participants are reminded to bring quarters for Euchre.

And if that’s not enough there’s a volleyball tournament and little league baseball games to watch throughout the day. For more information, go to www.senecarally.weebly.com.

Softball and baseball

Exciting new event for the 2019 rally will be a Fastpitch and Co-Ed Softball Tournament, sponsored by Johnson’s One Stop. The tournament will run from Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14. The tournament will take place at the Seneca Ball Field.

To enter a team, contact Jared Payne at 608-306-1276 or Brandon Johnson at 608-306-3126. For fastpitch, there is a $75 entrance fee; for slowpitch, there is a $50 entrance fee.

Proceeds will go to the Seneca Community Club. Concessions will be available – please no carry-ins.