While serving as Solanco Fair parade chairperson in 1997, Jeff Minnich started the tradition of having a grand marshal and theme for the annual event.

Things have come full circle.

With Minnich stepping down from that post this year, the Solanco Fair Association elected to honor him with the role of leading the 2-mile march through Quarryville Borough on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the opening night of the parade.

"Jeff has worked behind the scenes for many years making sure we have a parade that runs like a well-oiled machine," Solanco Fair president Brad Davis said. "He has spent countless hours sending out registrations, taking phone calls from people that have questions about the parade, and making sure everyone is in their place the night of the parade. This is not counting all the other things that he does that people don't see. For so many years, Jeff has been behind the scenes, and we as the fair board thought it was time he got to be in the front leading the parade as our grand marshal."

Fair board members like to joke that this is the type of thing that can happen when you miss a meeting. When Minnich did not attend the April meeting, Trudy Grove, his successor as parade chairperson, nominated him to be the grand marshal.

"I said, 'Look, guys, that's a great honor, but I'm not sure that this would be the appropriate year, because I really want this to stick with changing to Trudy,'" Minnich said. "I don't want to stick her this early in the changeover. Then I paused and realized it's the same language I've got when I've called people to be the grand marshal."

This year's theme is "A Journey Through Solanco's Past." "It seems appropriate as I'm telling my story of journeying through the past of my parade chairmanship as it's coming to an end," Minnich said.

Minnich came up with the idea to have a grand marshal to honor people who work behind the scenes. "When people ask what I'm most proud of working with the fair association, I say it's being able to honor people in front of the largest community gathering of the year," he said.

John Hoffman was the first grand marshal. Hoffman, who donated the funds for the first building on the fairgrounds which bears his name, was Minnich's Sunday school teacher and paid students to carry banners in the parade.

Organizing the parade is a time-consuming process. "The parade only happens once a year, but it is a commitment for the entire year," said Minnich, who is an entrepreneur. Employees of his businesses have helped through the years. Being able to email people instead of sending out letters has eased the burden a bit.

Minnich fondly recalls the days of bringing in mascots such as the Phillie Phanatic to interact with the crowd during the event. Minnich and his wife, Bonnie, allowed the people in the mascot outfits to use their home to change. Then after the parade, Bonnie whipped up a meal, and the visitors were able to cool off in the pool. "I'm hoping some of the families in the area can say, 'Hey, I remember when the Phillie Phanatic came to the fair,'" he said.

One year, the person dressed as the Philadelphia Eagles' mascot, Swoop, sent the Minnichs a thank you note that read in part, "I'd also like to thank you for hospitality by inviting us to your home and treating us like family."

Minnich said he will likely feel a mixed bag of emotions with an estimated 15,000 people lining the streets for the parade. "I think it will hit me when I'm going down the parade route when it's just about ready to start, and I'm sure I'm going to have butterflies that hold back the tears," he said.

Two prior attempts to retire as parade chairperson didn't stick when he was called back into service, but Minnich is confident in Grove and ready to step aside for good.

"All the other people I called to tell them they had earned the honor of being the grand marshal said, 'I am still able to help. Don't put me out to pasture,'" he said. "I'm probably saying, 'Yeah, put me out to pasture.'"