Tim Woodruff has been named the 2020 West Liberty Labor Day Celebration grand marshal, with festivities kicking off Saturday, Sept. 4, and continuing through Monday, Sept. 7, at Lions Club Park.
The tractor preview, previously known as the festival’s parade, begins at noon Saturday. Registration for tractor exhibitors begins at 10:30 a.m. next to Holdren Brothers in Hostetler’s Garage. This year, organizers are asking exhibitors not to throw candy during the tractor preview.
Also at noon Saturday, a classic car cruise-in is planned, with online pre-registration required at www.westlibertylions.org.
A longtime farmer and also a former West Liberty-Salem Schools bus driver, Woodruff will be honored at the festivities. He and his wife, the former Joyce Good, have been married for 54 years.
A 1962 Urbana High School graduate, his first job was as a guide at the Ohio Caverns. When he married Joyce, he also married into the family farming business along Sullivan Road.
Their farm was recently heralded as a Sesquicentennial Farm in Champaign County, and Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have tended and cared for the land for more than one-third of the 150 years.
After many years of service, Mr. Woodruff recently vacated his seat on the board of directors at The Peoples Savings and Loan Co. in West Liberty.
The Woodruffs are the parents of a son, Greg, who tends a herd of black cows and produces club calves, and daughter, Jennifer, who is loan administrator at The Peoples Savings and Loan Co. The grand marshal also enjoys attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, band performances and livestock shows.
Mr. Woodruff’s siblings includes a sister, Marian Woodruff Nolan of West Liberty, and a brother, Mark of Loveland.
The grand marshal also is a previous honoree of the Lions’ Club Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow Award.
“Learn from the past and try to improve the future,” Mr. Woodruff said. “Join a service organization and/or volunteer in your community.”
When asked about his favorite memory of Labor Day Festivals, he recalled the days when the Men’s Regional Fastpitch Tournament was hosted by the Lions and the Cavemen. He remembers when some of those games would last until the wee hours of the morning, organizers noted.
Mrs. Woodruff and others from the West Liberty Historical Society have served for more than 40 years to restore the West Liberty Town Hall to its former glory.
During the Labor Day activities, the Town Hall will be open for tours from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5. Upstairs, there is a stage just waiting for the final touches to host new performances.
A variety of concerts and entertainment are offered throughout the weekend as well, and a secure petting zoo, pony rides, barrel train rides and the West Liberty Splash Pad will be open for children.
To promote safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said all attendees will be required to follow state and local health department requirements in effect at the time of the event, including maintaining 6 feet of social distancing and wearing face coverings in public places.
All entertainment will be on the main stage and guests are asked to take their own lawn chairs and/or blankets.
For a complete schedule of events and registration information, visit the West Liberty Lions Club Facebook page or website.