Friends and Neighbors: Tim and Pam Anderson have worked the Farmers Day parade for 25 years

After 25 years, Tim and Pam Anderson are retiring from the Farmers Day parade committee.

"When we first moved to town Barb and Shorty Staab were running the parade and he had done it for well over 20 years, and he thought it was time that he started to step down and let younger blood come in," Tim said.

The Andersons purchased the local H & R Block from the Staabs and the two families became like one, Tim said. So, as seems to be the custom, the elders bequeathed the duties to their younger counterparts.

The parade became a family affair, as the Andersons' children learned how to do all the jobs as well, including handing out numbers, checking in entrants and radioing in any changes.

The Andersons began on the parade committee and stayed right there. They did not work on other Farmers Day events.

One of the biggest challenges should have been the weather, with cold or sweltering heat, but the parade was rarely affected.

"The only time I ever remember that it was supposed to rain through the parade, it stopped 15 minutes before the parade and it started again 15 minutes after the parade," Tim said. Awards that year were presented under the awning of the drug store.

Another challenge is that most of the preparation happens Friday night, when the committee ensures they have enough numbers for the entrants and they write up the entry read sheets as well. Coordinating the line-up happens on Friday afternoon. They do the ranking according to dignitaries, then arrange the kids who are expected to be part of three or four different entries.

"The parade committee is easier because we are done by noon," Tim said.

Tim said the week prior to the parade is spent getting the numbers and entries together, and this year Sandra Dominguez is assisting so she can train someone new for the task.

The action begins Saturday morning, and Tim said that many volunteers work to make the parade successful. There is a team of four judge chairmen, each with three or four people on their committee. They are scattered throughout the crowd, with even more volunteers to tally results.

For Pam, seeing the growth of those in the parade, as well as those who work on it throughout the years, has provided one of the biggest rewards.

"The appreciation of the kids and the involvement of the children is the biggest reward," Pam said. "You see the growth."

Watching the parade is as much fun as working on it for Tim, and he appreciates seeing the enjoyment others get from it as well.

"Every parade is unique and special," Tim said. "I have always liked it when the military comes down. I like watching the crowd when the parade comes through. I get to see people that are excited to stand for the pledge of allegiance. I like the way the appreciate the bands, and how they applaud for children that are just coming through."

Volunteers are always needed. Tim said he has watched the decline in numbers over the years, with fewer people doing more work.

"One of the reasons I wanted my kids to be in it, I wanted them to find out what it is to do service for the community and to understand what goes into a town celebration," Tim said. "But I find it is harder to find the younger generation to come in and help do this."

Tim may continue volunteering with the Farmers Day committee, but just not on the parade committee.

"Pam and I have enjoyed doing this for 25 years, but it is time to let younger people take over, get new ideas," Tim said. "The last few years I watched what they do in North Platte, what they do in Sidney, in the way they line up, do numbers and such. We are not exactly the same, and that is OK, but it doesn't mean there aren't better ways out there. Us old fogies start getting set in our ways, its time to let somebody else do that."