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Beautiful day for a parade
Dignitaries, heritage celebrated with 44th Annual AHF
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The Ellinwood Fire Department heads up the 44th After Harvest Parade in Ellinwood, Saturday morning. This youngster, provided with the opportunity to ride in the cab of the firetruck, opted to toss candy to his peers rather than catch. - photo by Veronica Coons, Tribune staff

 ELLINWOOD — Early Saturday morning, residents of Ellinwood began trickling onto Main Street, setting out blankets and lawn chairs in preparation for a tradition 44 years in the making. One family even set up not one, but two pools in their front yard in order to cool off as temperatures began to become sultry.
The children’s parade started the fun rolling. And the kids were really rolling — most riding bicycles. Two battery operated vehicles raced down the center of the brick paved road, each carrying pint-sized teams of drivers.
A few strollers were also part of the short but sweet display, and then Craig Roble performed a flyover in his airplane, and the main event began.
Dignitaries included Parade Grand Marshals Joe and Joyce Schulte, Honorary dignitary 99-year-old Mary Ann Brungardt, Ellinwood’s oldest living citizen, and 2017 Ellinwood Distinguished Citizen Rosie Joiner. They were joined by Miss Barton County Maddy Haden, State Representative Tory Marie Arnberger, Barton County Commissioner Alicia Straub and Ellinwood Mayor Irlan Fullbright.
Ellinwood High School’s first foreign exchange student, Hector Vicente Espinoza Lastra of Chile, was also present atop the Class of 1967 float.
Ongoing construction on Santa Fe Ave. prompted some changes to this year’s celebration and limited the size of entries in the parade. Still, there were numerous entries and a great deal of pride in Ellinwood’s hometown heritage on display.