Friday, September 11, 2009 10:28 PM CDT
Broom Corn boosters in the spotlight
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
ARCOLA -- The Broom Corn Festival started in 1971 on just a couple of city blocks in downtown Arcola.
“Those blocks became the building blocks of what has grown into the best festival in Central Illinois,” said Arcola Chamber of Commerce member Don Rankin, citing a survey of area festival-goers. He added it is the best festival with free entertainment and volunteer staffing in Illinois, in his opinion.
As the 39th annual Broom Corn Festival began Friday, the chamber honored Allen and Ruth Ann Yoder for their roles in founding the festival, operating Rockome Gardens for many years, and continuing to run the Dutch Kitchen. They will serve as grand marshals of the parade set for 3 p.m. today. The festival will continue through Sunday.
During a ceremony honoring the grand marshals at the Arcola Center, Rankin told the large crowd there that Allen Yoder came up with the idea for the festival and served as the event’s first chairman. Rankin said he continues to serve as the chairman for food stands, an important attraction at the festival.
Rankin said the Yoders both grew up in the Arcola area, graduated from Arcola High School in 1964, and have spent nearly all of their years living in their hometown.
“Allen and Ruth Ann are Arcola,” Rankin said. “Allen and Ruth Ann have made a real difference in Arcola.”
Elvan Yoder established Rockome Gardens in 1958 west of Arcola and his sons, Allen and Dale, continued to operate the park until its sale in 2006. Rockome Gardens offers Amish- and Mennonite-themed shops and programming.
Rankin said an estimated 4.3 million visitors passed through Rockome Gardens during the years the Yoders operated this park, and a lot of these visitors stopped and shopped in Arcola.
In addition, Rankin said an estimated 2.3 million customers have dined at the Dutch Kitchen since Allen and Ruth Yoder opened this restaurant in 1971 in downtown Arcola.
“That is a lot of people to have strolling Main Street after a good meal,” Rankin said.
Rick Edwards, a long-time friend of the Yoders and their accountant, said both his daughters and countless other Arcola area teenagers found part-time jobs over the decades working for the Yoders at Rockome Gardens and the Dutch Kitchen.
Jason Yoder, who was at Friday’s ceremony along with his sister, Lindsay, said he learned his work ethic from his parents’ example and from working at their businesses. He encouraged them to take it as easy as possible this weekend and enjoy the experience of being grand marshals.
“Everyone in the community knows how much you have done for the community. This is their way of showing they appreciate you,” Jason Yoder said.
Allen Yoder thanked the chamber for the recognition and said it is an honor to be included on the list of grand marshals, noting his father was grand marshal in 1981. He also thanked all the volunteers who have devoted so much effort to Broom Corn Festival over the years.
“Lets continue to move forward and continue to make it the best festival in Illinois,” Yoder said.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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~STRANGER~ wrote on Sep 13, 2009 7:14 AM: