Honored 2014 Osage City Chamber of Commerce Fair Parade Grand Marshal Melvin Croucher is escorted down Market street; driven by Keith Stinson.
Partly cloudy with a slight threat of rain, the Osage City Chamber of Commerce’s annual fair parade filled Market Street with people Thursday. The Osage County Fair is under way at the Osage City fairgrounds until Saturday night, and the parade is a traditional part of the annual festivities.
In addition to the Osage City School Band, the parade also featured the Sal Cruz Drumline for musical entertainment. The spotlight of the parade was on grand marshal Melvin Croucher, Mr. and Mrs. Osage City Jim and Gail Lohmeyer, and the Lohmeyer family as honorary parade marshals.
A number of creative floats paraded down Market Street, with judges having a tough time judging all of the floats that portrayed the parade theme of “Celebrate Lake Fever.”
Cash prizes were given to four floats: First National Bank of Kansas, first place; Osage County Community Foundation, in memory of Steve Kellison, second place; Willing Workers 4-H Club, third place; the Osage City softball team, fourth place.
Other parade highlights included the Shawnee County Mounted Posse, a trio of restored tractors by Willing Workers 4-H Club (on display at the fairgrounds Saturday), numerous antique and classic cars, local businesses, and more politicians than you could shake a stick at.
Fair activities continue Friday with a round robin livestock showmanship, and a talent show and fireworks, and wraps up Saturday with livestock judging contest, antique tractor show, livestock sale and a concert.
