Strawberry Festival Committee is starting early

By Don Rush

It’s only been a little over a month since the 71st annual Strawberry Festival in downtown Leonard delighted area families. That short amount of time is not stopping committee Vice President Brandy Schmidt from starting work on the 72nd annual Strawberry Fest.

“We’d like to get a head start,” Schmidt said.

When asked if the committee needs volunteers she enthusiastically said, “We sure do.”

Schmidt, who’s been on the committee for three years, said they are looking for committee members as well as volunteers and general laborers for the weekend of the event (held every July).

“We need volunteer committee members to fill in the gaps,” she said. “We want to find the best fit for our volunteers.”

Traditionally the festival has food vendors, inflatables, a petting zoo and games for children as well as a bake-off, pie eating contests and the Strawberry Derby Races where area youth (aged 7-17) ride their home-built, prefabricated or stock cars down W. Elmwood Street. The Addison Township Fire Department started the festival years ago as a fundraiser with their Strawberry Ice Cream Social fundraiser.

Plans for the festival start in earnest with monthly meetings after the first of next year.

She said volunteers can sign up through Sept. 23 – and if they receive enough interest maybe an October fundraising event can come to light. To volunteer email Schmidt at Brafer@msn.com, or by phone, 248-568-4942.