Maple Syrup Festival parade grand marshals selected
Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival organizers have tapped Steve and Patti Sandel to be the grand marshals of the 65th Maple Syrup Festival parade.
They will be leading the parade down Wright Avenue on Sunday, April 28, at 2:30 pm.
Steve and Patti, like many Shepherd children, began their volunteer efforts carrying trays of pancakes from the grills to the serving line.
They have many other memories of past festivals; the streets so crowded with campers it was difficult to move around the village and Arts and Crafts located in the Rhynard car dealership (same site as the carwash).
Maple syrup candy was made and packaged in the old Township Hall and then the old Home Economics room at the high school.
The couple grew into many different volunteer jobs.
Steve is a tireless worker for the Sugarbush. As tapping season approaches, he is found in the Winn or Lake Isabella woods preparing the tubing for the season and setting the spiles.
He often transports the thousands of gallons of sap into the Sugarbush to be evaporated into maple syrup.
He has become an expert candy maker using the famous “pig” equipment and helps with other value-added products.
Steve is a voting member of the Sugarbush Board and his expertise as a plumber is often used on the Festival grounds.
Patti is a long-time member of the Festival Board and is quick to see a need and fill it.
In recent years, Patti and others have overseen the coffee room providing fresh coffee pots to 5 different sites in the dining areas. She also sets up and staffs the Children’s Village during the Festival.
Any of their family members, Jarrod (Melody) and two sons from Chelsea, Jenna (Ken) and two daughters who live near Lake Michigan in South Haven, and