Even with a new award for Best Performance this year, the stars of the Fourth of July Parade were not on a float or handing out candy.
Instead, the two baby bison known as April and Mabel stuck their hooves outside City Hall to complete the “Bison”-tennial theme of the parade to commemorate Indiana’s 200th birthday.
Mayor James Snyder, who loves seeing all the families come to the parade each year, also enjoyed the willingness of Broken Wagon Bison Farm to lend their animals for the day.
“Jennifer Gonzalez is helping run the parade, she called them, thinking of them because they’re a local farm, and they said, ‘sure’ and they brought them and it’s kind of cool," he explained.
Bud Koeppen, Vice President of Broken Wagon, brought two of his bison who see him as “Mom.” Both were rejected by their bison mothers, so Koeppen said he stepped in to take on the role of nurturer, bottle feeding the animals and taking care of them.
Even the trailer ride from the farm was rough, Koeppen said. Fortunately, he was able to calm the bison down by sitting in the trailer with them.
“First they wanted to put them on a float and have them moving, and I didn’t think that was going to work; they’re going to be too panicky,” Koeppen said.
The presence of the bison served as an interesting new addition for parade goers.
“Kids love them,” Koeppen said.
Also at City Hall this year was the judge’s booth, as the parade route was changed so it began at Portage Mall, ran down Central Avenue, turned at Willowcreek Road and ended at Stone Avenue.
“[The committee, Nancy Simpson, Jessica Bailey, Jennifer Gonzalez, Connie King, Kris McKim and I] met earlier to kind of organize everything out,” Wilkie said. “With it being a new location, there were a lot of logistical items we had to figure out.”
Although the city wants to move the parade permanently by Founders’ Square, the change began this year, before the Square is done, due to construction at Willowcreek Middle School where the parade usually lines up, according to Wilkie.
This caused the city fireworks display to be moved to Founders’ Square as well. For the special occasion, adjustments to the timeline of the new pavilion have been made.
“The amphitheater is not technically open yet, but we’re going to open it just for today so the band [Mr. Right] can play there tonight, and then it will be closed until August or September when it’s finished,” Wilkie said.