Jeff Rich to serve as 2021 fair parade grand marshal

Thursday, July 15, 2021
Always an entertaining presence at the Family Fun Day Purse Auction, Jeff Rich has volunteered his talents in a variety of ways to the Putnam County Fair over the years. On Sunday, he’ll be honored for his efforts at the fair parade grand marshal.
Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE

As an veteran auctioneer, Jeff Rich is perfectly comfortable with all eyes being on him.

But as he rides along on Sunday, making his way westbound on Washington Street in Jerry Chandler’s carriage, the Cloverdale-based auctioneer admits he may feel slightly out of place.

When he was asked to be the grand marshal of the Putnam County Fair Parade, Rich — always quick with a self-deprecating joke — had a question.

“You couldn’t find anyone better?” Rich recalled with a laugh.

But on a more serious note, Rich looks at those who’ve come before him and doesn’t think of himself in the same way.

“Any time I’ve ever gotten an award or given an opportunity, I think about the people that have won that award or done that same thing,” Rich said. “They’ve had some great grand marshals that have done some great things in the community and I just don’t put myself in the same category as some of those people.”

He recalls winning the Cloverdale Civic Award a number of years ago and having a similar feeling.

“They always print the people who’ve won it,” Rich said, “and the ones that stick out in my mind were Doc Ernst, Adeline Knoy and Bill Henson. Those people were very deserving of the award. I don’t know why I got it.”

That humble spirit is indicative of the selflessness that earns Rich such honors.

“We’re excited about Jeff because, honestly, for the committee it was a no-brainer because he’s so committed,” Fair Parade Committee Chairman Nancy Michael said. “He’s volunteered. He’s given of himself to 4-H and to the community in numerous ways and he just donates his time. That’s why we wanted to honor him.”

“I appreciate it,” Rich said, slightly embarrassed. “That’s not why I do it.”

“I know you don’t,” Michael responded. “He’s selfless about his time and he’s commitment to Putnam County and the community and 4-H. That’s what really made him stand out to us to be our grand marshal, and what better guy who’s been strong and a survivor?

“We’re really happy he said yes.”

The parade over which Rich is presiding commences at 2 p.m. at Washington Street and Indianapolis Road, making its way west to downtown Greencastle.

With no parade in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be at least one change in 2021 — two sets of Fair Queens. Last year’s queen Kinzee Wilson and her court will be part of the festivities, as will the new queen, set to be crowned by Wilson Saturday night, and her court.

With the 2021 parade theme of “Hometown Survivors-Staying Strong Together,” Rich was also a natural choice, looking back to his 2014 heart attack, after which he spent several days in intensive care.

At that point, the community rallied around Rich with the “Have-a-Heart” fundraiser that helped him cover his medical expenses.

It didn’t stop there, though, as Rich began paying it forward, as Have-a-Heart moved forward to raise money for various organizations in the community.

“COVID kind of shut us down, but hopefully we’ll come back with something,” Rich said.

Supporting others has always been a theme for Rich, not the other way around. It’s the reason he first got involved with the 4-H livestock auction after getting his auctioneer license back in 1994.

After that, he started helping at the Baker’s Best auction and Family Fun Day purse auction, taking over when Fred Cox stepped aside.

“In the livestock sale, one thing I remember really well was the last youngster to sell out of 200-some animals,” Rich said, “the buyers sat there and made sure that the last child’s animal brought just as good of a premium as the first animal did. I remember that.

“It was Bill Robertson and he was a straight-up guy. He wanted to help out the last kid. It wasn’t his choice to be selling at 12 o’clock at night.”

There have also been some good times in the community building.

“The purse auction — lots of fun times over there. The ladies are just fun,” Rich said. “The cake auction is the same way. The cake auction probably brings in more people and businesses from the community, whereas the purse auction is more just the ladies in the group, but still good fun.”

“Probably the biggest memory is the year after my heart attack, the ladies put together some money and that was very humbling.”

Rich also recalls some sad times.

“We’ve, unfortunately, lost a few kids, like Riley Sutherlin,” Rich said. “Every year at the 4-H auction, I think about that boy. I think about him every time I see his mom, his dad, his sister and brother.”

It always comes back to the kids in Rich’s mind.

“4-H is a good thing in my opinion and this is just kind of my way of giving back,” Rich said. “I’ve always said, if something involves kids, it’s going to be a success. 4-H has been around for a number of years and that’s why.”

And why wouldn’t a former 4-H member continue to support the program?

“I was a 10-year 4-H member,” Rich recalled. “Technically, I didn’t show the same project for 10 years, so I was told I wasn’t a 10-year member but I was a in it for 10 years. There are a lot of us that are like that.”

“It was a good time in my life and I just like giving back. Even though I kind of grew up in Owen county, I showed in Putnam County.”

It’s the same way to this day.

“Even though my residence is Owen County, Greencastle and Putnam County are what I consider my home county,” Rich said.

It’s a community he loves so he continues to give in whatever way he can.

“That’s just my way of giving back, whether it be the ladies or the kids,” Rich said.

And so, uncomfortable or not, Rich will find himself presiding over the parade come Sunday, probably doing what he always does, laughing and enjoying the community.

“I hated it last year when they couldn’t do the parade for COVID, but I was thankful that they asked me to do it,” Rich said. “I’m looking forward to it and working on my wave.”

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