Posen set to celebrate all things potato

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The 57th annual Posen Potato Festival kicks off this weekend with grand marshals Ray "Butch" Meyers and his wife Blanche at the helm. What many don't know, is that the couple very nearly didn't accept the honor bestowed on them for their years of service to their community and the festival.

"When we were told about being chosen as the marshals of the parade, we were ready to decline," Blanche said. "Our son Tom told us to think about it before we gave our answer, and then our daughter Judy said, 'don't even think about not doing it.' It is an honor, but we thought there were a lot more deserving people than us."

Blanche holds the distinct honor of having been the first Potato Festival queen in 1952 when the festival was held in mid-October. She said the weather changed the committee's mind about a late festival.

"That day, all the girls showed up for the parade in a storm; ice, snow and sleet fell all day," she said. "It didn't take very long for the committee to decide that October was just too late to hold something like this. In fact, I have only missed one festival since then, because in 1953 I was in nursing school and just couldn't come home."

The couple lived in Rogers City for 12 years following their wedding. Eventually, they moved to Posen and built a home on a small parcel of land near the Styma potato farming operation on M-65. There they set down roots and raised a family: two sons, Paul and wife Michele, now of Woodstock, Ga., and Thomas and wife Denise of Posen, and two daughters, Rose Ann of Posen and Judith and husband Mark Romel, also of Posen.

Blanche was a registered nurse in Rogers City's health clinic for 35 years and Ray worked at U.S. Steel's Calcite plant for 40 years.

Blanche said Ray has two loves now: gardening and going to hunting camp. She said his trips to the Little Pines Hunting Camp near Hillman usually means he will be accompanied by the couple's 12-year-old granddaughter.

"He also is quite a cook and his breaded pork chops are outstanding," she said. "When we first were married he couldn't even boil water, but all that's changed now. In fact, he does quite a bit of the cooking here at home plus he is the official camp cook at deer camp."

Blanche said she loves playing cards, cooking and baking and just spending time visiting with family and friends who always seem to be dropping in and making her days full and exciting. Which happens to be exactly what she has planned for the festival.

"I'm sure we will have plenty of people to visit with so that's what we are planning," Ray said. "I'm really looking forward to just having a great time."

The 2008 Posen Potato Festival starts this Friday and ends Sunday.

Mike Modrzynski can be reached via e-mail at mmodrzynski@thealpenanews.com