Stemilt Growers Grand Parade

2012 Grand Parade Results

FLOATS:

Grand Sweepstakes Award

(The highest float award.  Given to most outstanding float in the parade, regardless of division.)

• Deer Park Community Float #117

Community Sweepstakes Award

(Presented to the outstanding float in the Community division.)

• Sunnyside #102

Community/Volunteer made float Award

(Presented to the outstanding float in the Community division.)

• Chewelah Community Float #110

STEMILT GROWERS Sponsor’s Choice Award

(Given to the Sponsors favorite float, regardless of division.)

• Hyack #56

Royalty CHOICE award

(Apple Blossom Royalty’s favorite float regardless of division)

• Manson Apple Blossom Festival #43

*GOLDEN APPLE AWARD

(Awarded to a float with outstanding animation.)

• Kelowna BC #78

*Spirit of Festival AWARD

(Presented to a float deserving special recognition.) *  Presented at the Discretion of the Judges.

• Spokane Lilac Festival #26

1st Place (Given in each Community Division based on population.)

Division A (Population over 30,000) Tacoma Daffodil

Division B (Population 10,000-29,999) Capital Lakefair

Division C (Population 5,000-9,999) Prosser

Division D (Population 1,000-4,999) Leavenworth Autumn Leaf

Division E (Population Under 1,000) Wilbur Community Float

EQUESTRIAN UNITS:    (Cleanliness of Horse & Tack; Riding Apparel; Crowd  Appeal; Parade Presence)

Best Royalty Equestrian         Miss Moses Lake Roundup Queen

Best Group Equestrian            Express Clydesdales

Best Costume Equestrian        Rancho Los Lagos

Novelty Equestrian                 Wells Fargo Stage Coach

Equestrian Most Original Clean-Up Crew Miss Omak Stampede

SPECIALTY UNITS:    (Uniqueness; Crowd Appeal; and Costumes)

1^st Place Specialty                   Wenatchee Valley Senior Center

2^nd Place Specialty                  Fiestas Mexicanas

3rd Place Specialty                  Rosali Landscaping

Most Original Specialty Unit      Apples & Elves

2012 Grand Marshal - Community Foundation of NCW 

The Community Foundation of North Central Washington has been named as the Grand Marshal for the 2012 Stemilt Growers Grand Parade.

“We are pleased to honor this great organization on their 25^th Anniversary,” said Festival Director General Adele Haley.   In 2011, over $316,000 was awarded to deserving students within the three county area for use in the furthering of their education.  We are so proud of the work that the Community Foundation does for our Valley.”

As the Grand Marshals, members of the Community Foundation staff and board will be honored at the All Service Club Luncheon on Wednesday, May 2 and ride in the Stemilt Growers Grand Parade on Saturday, May 5.  The Grand Marshal is sponsored by Colonial Vista.

The Community Foundation of NCW is for people who care about making this part of the world a more wonderful place to live, to learn, to work and raise family. Established in 1986, your foundation attracts and manages charitable gifts from a broad range of people for the long-term benefit of Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. For more information about the Community Foundation of NCW, visit www.cfncw.org.

Special Appearance - Express Clydesdales

The world-renown Express Clydesdales representing Express Employment Professionals will be appearing in the 2012 Stemilt Growers Grand Parade on Saturday, May 5.

Of a rare black and white color, the Express Clydesdales stand 17-18 hands high and weigh over 2,000 pounds each. Their shoes are the size of dinner plates and weigh over three pounds each.

The Express Clydesdales have participated in many nationally recognized parades and promotional events, including Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Calgary Stampede Parade and most recently had the honor of escorting Prince William and his wife, Kate.

There will be a special Meet & Greet on Friday May 4^th in the Coastal Farm parking lot (across from Costco in East Wenatchee) from 3:00pm-6:00pm.  BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers will be available by donation with all proceeds going to Children’s Miracle Network.

For more information on the Express Clydesdales, visit www.expressclydesdales.com.

2011 Awards Results

FLOATS:

GRAND SWEEPSTAKES AWARD

(The highest float award. Given to most outstanding float in the parade, regardless of division.)

Deer Park Community Float #76

COMMUNITY SWEEPSTAKES AWARD

(Presented to the outstanding float in the Community division.)

Tacoma Daffodil Festival Traveling Float #93

COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER MADE FLOAT AWARD

(Presented to the outstanding float in the Community division.)

Chewelah Community Float #85

MAYOR’S AWARD

(Given to the most outstanding entry from a non-commercial entity i.e. a church, service club, etc.)

Fiestas Mexicanas #95

STEMILT GROWERS SPONSOR’S CHOICE AWARD

(Given to the Sponsors favorite float, regardless of division.)

Astoria Regatta Festival #117

ROYALTY CHOICE AWARD

(Apple Blossom Royalty’s favorite float regardless of division)

Portland Royal Rosarians #68

*GOLDEN APPLE AWARD

(Awarded to a float with outstanding animation.)

Cashmere Float #55

*SPIRIT OF FESTIVAL AWARD

(Presented to a float deserving special recognition.) * Presented at the Discretion of the Judges.

Sunnyside Community Float #51

1ST PLACE (Given in each Community Division based on population.)
Division A (Population over 30,000) Penticton Peach Festival Float
Division B (Population 10,000-29,999) Marysville Strawberry Festival Float
Division C (Population 5,000-9,999) No entries in this division
Division D (Population 1,000-4,999) Manson Apple Blossom Festival Float
Division E (Population Under 1,000) Wilbur Community Float

EQUESTRIAN UNITS

(Judging Criteria: Cleanliness of Horse & Tack; Riding Apparel; Crowd Appeal; Parade Presence)
Best Royalty Equestrian: Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court
Best Group Equestrian: Backcountry Horsemen of the Wenatchee Valley
Best Costume Equestrian: Rodeo City Equestrians
Novelty Equestrian: Fiestas Mexicanas
Equestrian Most Original Clean-Up Crew: Ellensburg Rodeo Mounted Posse

SPECIALTY UNITS:

(Uniqueness; Crowd Appeal; and Costumes)

1st Place Specialty: The Pirates of Treasure Island
2nd Place Specialty: Music Theatre of Wenatchee
3rd Place Specialty: Blossoms and Bugs
Most Original Specialty Unit: Wenatchee Valley Museum, “David Thompson on the Columbia”

2011 Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade Band Ranking by Division

Div    Rank    Name
Sweepstakes       Manson
Best Drum Major overall    Wenatchee
AAAA    1    South Kitsap
AAAA    2    Roosevelt
AAA    1    Kennedy
AA    1    Sultan
AA    2    Grandview
A    1    Hoquiam
A    2    Cashmere
B    1    Waterville
B    2    Entiat
BB    1    Lind

2011 Washington State Apple Blossom Festival
Grand Parade Drill Team Winners by Division

Div    Name
AAAA    Ballard
AAA    Kennedy
AA    Sultan
A    Royal
B    Waterville

2011 Grand Marshals

The Grand Marshals are sponsored by Colonial Vista Long Term Care, Colonial Vista Retirement, Healthy Options, Highline Convalescent Center, and Hearthstone Cottage.

In the past, the Festival has honored military heroes, sports champions, fruit industry leaders, business leaders, and even Hollywood stars. This year’s Festival is focusing inward to the strengths of our community at large. The Apple Blossom Festival will recognize the accomplishments of two men with great vision. These men understood that a great community consists of more than just a great economy. These men realized the need for great churches, schools, colleges, an appreciation for the arts: drama, & music, museums, performance halls, and newspapers.

The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is honoring Dr. William (Bill) Steward and Wilfred Woods, two pioneers of leadership in the Wenatchee Valley, as the 2011 Grand Marshals of the 92nd Annual Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Stemilt Growers Grand Parade.

Steward is a former President of Wenatchee Valley College and was also the Chairman of the Fundraising campaign that enabled the building of the 20,000 square foot Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center, currently on Maple St.

Woods is best known as the Publisher of The Wenatchee World, but Woods has had a key role in many projects throughout the valley, including the Quest project which raised $100,000 to bring in the telecommunications systems of Washington State University for its agriculture program and nurse’s training program. In 2009, Woods received the Governor’s Medal of Merit (highest award given by the state) for his leadership and dedication to the economic development of North Central Washington

Also, as Grand Marshals, they will be honored at the All Service Club Luncheon on Wednesday, May 4.  For full bios of each gentleman, please scroll down.

Parade Route Change

The Grand Parade will travel down Orondo St., turn left on Wenatchee Ave., and continue on Wenatchee Ave. to 7th.  It will NO LONGER turn up 2nd, on to Mission St.

For more info and Press Release, click HERE to link to The Wenatchee World January 19 article. Graphic provided by The Wenatchee World

Dr. William (Bill) Steward

Dr. William (Bill) Steward was born in Tilden, NE.   He joined the military as a Navigator for the 8th Army Airforce, and while stationed in Sioux Falls, SD, he met and married LaDean Cramer. In 1963, the Steward Family finally took roots in Wenatchee after a long series of cross-country moves with Bill's jobs in education and Bill became the President of Wenatchee Valley College that same year. While at the college, Bill founded the WVC Community Symphony, was the first Board Chairman of Gallery ’76, was the Commissioner of the Washington State Education Commission, and chaired the 1976 United Way campaign.   After leaving WVC in 1977, Bill became the Director of the NCW Museum in 1978 and held the position of President of the Washington State Museum Association from 1981-1985. He was also the founding Chairman of the Washington State Heritage Council in 1984.

In 1992, Bill took on a major project as the Chairman of the Fundraising Campaign for a newer and bigger center for Senior Citizens in our valley. In 1993, the Wenatchee Valley Senior Center purchased land, and built the current 20,000 square foot Center with 129 parking spaces. Due to the foresight and leadership of Bill and the committee, the Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center is a debt free corporation that has increased its membership from 400 in 1993 to over 2000 at the end of 2007.

Bill has served on the Board of Directors for the Wenatchee Civic Ballet, Community Concerts, Little Art Gallery, and the Allied Arts Council of NCW. He has received numerous other award and accolades, including the Outstanding Leadership in the Arts Award from ALCOA. Bill has two daughters, Barbara (Scottsdale, AZ) and Cheryl (Wenatchee), 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and one more great-grandchild on the way. Bill has an amazing outlook and zest for life…which is quite evident as he climbed Saddlerock weekly until he was 90 years old.

Wilfred Woods

Wilfred Woods, chairman of the board of The Wenatchee World, has spent his whole career with the paper. He became editor and publisher in 1950 upon the death of his father, turning that position to his son in 1997. He expanded the scope of the paper during his role as publisher, converting the printing to offset and the entry into computerized operation.

The State of Washington honored him with its highest honor, the Medal of Merit, in 2009.  He has also served the state in a number of capacities: Board of Trustees of Central Washington Universities, member of the state Centennial Commission, member of the State Parks and Recreation Commission, and board of curators of the state Historical Society.

Wilfred has been an active member of many organizations in the resource and outdoor recreation field. Under his direction, The Wenatchee World long held a leadership role in promoting outdoor recreation, parks, conservation, irrigation and power development. Wilfred has engaged Wenatchee World readers with his front-page column “Talking it Over” for more than 60 years. He was also one of the original members of the group that successfully developed the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee.

He and his wife Kathy have long been interested in the arts, and started the Woods House Conservatory of Music in his parents’ former home. They are also honorary chairs of the campaign for the new Wenatchee Valley College Arts and Music Center. Wilfred and Kathy Woods have one son (Rufus), two daughters (Kara Hunnicutt of Ellensburg and Gretchen Woods of Wenatchee), and three grandchildren.