The Morrisons Cove Agricultural Parade is an institution in the rural farming community dating back more than 40 years, according to parade chairman Steve Mowry, who has helped organize the event from the beginning.

“Bob (Bechtel) and I were in the original group, and they wanted something to spice up the carnival and to drive people in, so the park board came to a couple of us and asked if we wanted to do an ag parade, and that’s what we did,” Mowry said.

Over the years, the parade has grown considerably, and now features high school marching bands, children’s gymnastic schools and local government officials, in addition to the usual assortment of livestock and farm equipment.

According to Bechtel and Mowry, while planning the parade originally began back in January, they can now begin in April due to a more streamlined process and a large team of volunteer helpers.

Mirror photos by Patrick Waksmunski Tractors of all sizes took part in the annual Morrisons Cove Agricultural Parade on Tuesday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

At first, Mowry said volunteers had to go door-to-door to get people to participate, but since the parade has grown, it has become a regional attraction.

“We don’t invite people, they just come, they know they’re invited,” Bechtel said. “It’s a community affair, it’s a farming community and people come to see a nice parade.”

“For me, it’s just giving back to the community,” Mowry said.

Floats and fun

Deacon Stephanie Diggins came to the parade with her fellow congregants and Pastor Phil Waite from Target One Ministries in Martinsburg.

Twins Julian and Cora Sanders, 6, of West Chester, dash for candy at Tuesday’s parade. They were visiting relatives in the Cove. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“Last year was our first parade, so we’re back again for another one,” Diggins said.

Target One went with a patriotic-themed float in 2023, she said.

This year, Diggins helped design a dinosaur-themed float to help promote the message conveyed by the book of Genesis in the Old Testament.

“That’s for God, who created all things, including dinosaurs,” Diggins said. “We try to pick a verse we like and get our theme to go with it, or vice-versa.”

Chad Imler attended the parade with some of his colleagues at Park Security in Altoona.

Tractors from different eras dotted the parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

This was the first time Park Security had representatives in the parade, he said.

“I grew up in this area, and the parade is big in this area. … We wanted to get our names out there,” Imler said.

Bill Myer came to the parade with his family to celebrate his daughter Ella, who was crowned Tiny Miss Morrisons Cove in the 3-to-5 age group at the carnival on Monday.

“There were 10 (other girls) in her group, then a Miss Runner Up and the Tiny Miss,” Myer said. “It was her first time doing it, she’s excited.”

Republican candidate for the 80th Pennsylvania House District Scott Barger said he came to the parade to meet his would-be constituents.

A balloon toy vendor sorts to make a sale at the parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“It’s the biggest parade in the county, all the coolest kids are here,” Barger said. “It’s a great time, it’s wonderful.”

According to Barger, Martinsburg residents will put their lawn chairs out days in advance in order to get prime spots along the parade route.

“They’re proud of their parade, and if those of us who are running for office come out, it shows we support what they’re doing,” Barger said.

Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks also participated in the parade.

“People tell me to do parades, so I do parades; it’s nice to see everybody,” Weeks said. “I like this parade because there’s a lot of tractors and trucks and I like tractors and trucks.”

2024 Little Miss Morrisons Cove Alexis Morningstar waves while riding in the parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Weeks noted that with his busy schedule, he doesn’t get to go out into the community as much as he would like.

“What I do is usually very confrontational … while this is very non-confrontational interaction with the community,” Weeks said.

Head coach Bethany Kensinger brought 50 of her students from the Gymcatz gymnastics program at the Garver Memorial YMCA in Roaring Spring to walk, jump and tumble in the parade.

Kensinger doesn’t come with a specific program for her students. Instead, she tells her girls “anything you can do without a mat, do it.”

Every girl gets a set of padded biking gloves to wear to not get scorched on the hot pavement, she said.

“Pretty much all of us grew up in this area, so to us, it’s an annual tradition in our area to get together as a huge community to celebrate,” Kensinger said.

A family tradition

Pastor Michael Abell camped out along South Market Street with his Brethren in Christ Church congregation to pass out cold water bottles and watch the parade, he said.

“I’ve been here for 14 years and we’ve done it every year since. Sometimes we walk, sometimes we just hand out water,” Abell said.

Either way, the parade is worth attending, Abell said.

“I think it’s a night for the community to come out and enjoy each other, watch the fun and watch all the fire trucks, just a fun time to be a small town community,” Abell said.

Heather Horton came with her daughter, Jessica, and her two young sons, Tucker and Declan, to watch the parade along South Market Street.

“Because we’re in farm country, it’s fun to see all the farm animals and things, tractors and things like that,” Heather Horton said.

According to her daughter, the parade is a good opportunity to see people you know, since attendees will often travel from miles away to catch the annual event.

After moving to Homewood in Martinsburg from Portage two years ago, John Gresky has been a regular parade attendee.

“They have the Summerfest in Portage, it’s down at the park, and they have a parade on Main Street, but it’s not as big as this,” Gresky said.

Dorcas Rhodes watched the parade alongside four generations of her family, including her daughter, Tammy, and great-grandchildren, Ryder and Layla.

According to Rhodes, some of the highlights from the parade are the marching bands and the dance troupes.

“Just to see the parade, we’ve been coming here for 30-something years,” Rhodes said. “We enjoy it every year.”

Roxanne and her husband, Ron Replogle, prefer, like many Martinsburg residents, to make the parade a time for a family celebration.

“We have a picnic every year with the family,” Roxanne Replogle said.

She has been attending the parade regularly since she moved to the Cove from Bloomsburg 30 years ago.

“We always try to make it, but sometimes we have other obligations,” Ron Replogle said. “It’s just our thing from Martinsburg.”

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.

Macey Imler of Martinsburg holds an ice pop for her daughter Payton Moore, 5, that they received from a church group at the Martinsburg Ag Parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

William Bennett of Martinsburg walked the parade route commemorating 1776. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Representatives of Ritchey's Dairy cooled the crowd with pints of chocolate milk prior to the start of the parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

A group of Mennonite girls sit on the edge of the fire hall driveway in anticipation for the start of the parade. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski