Ag Parade to Honor Dairy Promotion Committee, Dawn Theofield

The 40th Agricultural Parade will take place on Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. As always, the parade will run rain or shine.

This year's grand marshal will be Dawn Theofield, who passed away in November of 2021.

The honoree will be the Blair County Dairy Promotion Committee.

Central High School and Everett High School baseball teams were invited to the parade as well and will have their own floats to commemorate both winning state championships.

The parade committee reminds participants to have walkers hand out candy, rather than throwing candy.

Honoree

Blair County's Dairy Promotion Committee is made up of eight to 10 women. The group's main goal is to raise awareness of the dairy industry and promote dairy, according to Kristy Bigelow, committee member.

Bigelow, who is from Williamsburg, has been involved in the committee since she was a dairy miss in 1996.

"Ag is the number-one industry in Pennsylvania and the number-one industry in Blair County," Bigelow said.

The Dairy Promotion Committee is in charge of the Blair County Dairy Princess process.

"We're very fortunate in Blair County," Bigelow said. "Support is very strong and we get to do a lot of things."

The junior promotion team is made up of two dairy ambassadors, dairy misses, dairy maids, and the dairy royalty.

The committee is grateful and appreciative to be honored at this year's ag parade.

"There are a lot of really good ag associations that deserve this," Bigelow said.

According to Bigelow, the committee has "been at it a long time." Committee member Jean Sollenberger has been participating since her daughter became dairy princess. For 30 years, Sollenberger has helped out with bookings for the dairy princesses and riding around with the girls.

"I think we're being honored due to our longevity," Bigelow said.

The committee will be hard at work during the parade, leaving few to be on the actual float.

Junior representatives will hand out milk with Ritchey's Dairy, and the ice cream trailer will be open during the parade.

Blair County Dairy Princess Darcy Heltzel will be at mandatory training and cannot attend the parade.

Sollenberger, her daughter and granddaughters will be on the float, as well as other representatives from the committee.

"The park has done such a nice job of managing everything," Bigelow said. "We're all excited to see how this year turns out."

Grand marshal

Throughout her life, Dawn Theofield helped with the ag parade every year. Acccording to her fiance, Steve Bramhall, she even put him to work when he moved to Martinsburg.

After her passing, Morrisons Cove Parade Committee posted on Facebook, "Her excitement for the parades was contagious." The page also said, "Dawn was always willing to do whatever was needed to help our parades become successful."

Theofield loved to direct the floats on Sunset Drive. Candy Hoover did this with her and has many fond memories of their work together.

Theofield also made the signs for the grand marshal and honoree floats.

"A few years ago, she hurt her arm," Bramhall said. "She still tried to make the posters."

Hoover said Theofield was very "artsy craftsy." She painted wood, tin, golf balls, handsaws, shovels, chairs, and Christmas ornaments. She also did floral arrangements and baked cakes.

"She was never still," Bramhall said. "She was always arranging flowers and wreaths."

Theofield also made baskets for the Martinsburg Fire Company's annual ox roast's basket raffle.

"She was never asked," Bramhall said. "She just loved doing it."

Though she did many art and craft projects, Theofield did not "blow her own horn," according to Bramhall. She was incredibly humble and constantly surprised by the kindness of others.

"She would have felt flabbergasted to be the grand marshal," Bramhall said. "So honored. Surprised, but so honored."

According to Bramhall, Theofield never took anything for granted. She was appreciative of everything.

"Every little thing I did for her, she was surprised," Bramhall said.

From buying her flowers to walking her to her car every morning, Bramhall often brought Theofield to tears with appreciation.

"Someone once said, 'Sounds like you got a king.' Dawn said, 'No, I got a hero.'"

The pair were inseparable for years. When Bramhall was diagnosed with cancer, Theofield did not leave his side. In the moments when he thought he wouldn't make it, Theofield was his champion and knew he would make it.

"She was my angel," Bramhall said.

On Jan. 1, 2020, Bramhall proposed with Theofield's mother's ring.

"She was really close with her parents," Hoover said.

Hoover met Theofield when Dawn's mother Sherri babysat Hoover's kids. Sherri and Theofield's father, Truman, have both passed.

"Her parents would have been proud," Hoover said of Theofield's honoring at the upcoming parade.

Theofield was raised in Martinsburg. She had a special affection for Fisher's Party Central.

"She loved everywhere in Martinsburg," Bramhall said.

Theofield's love and excitement was always apparent.

"If you saw her, her personality shined through," Hoover said.

Both Bramhall and Hoover felt that Theofield cared about other people more than she cared about herself.

"She would do anything for anyone," Bramhall said.

Theofield passed away in November of 2021.

"I miss her," Bramhall said. "I will always love her. Everything you do, you see Dawn right there."

Bramhall will be on the grand marshal float in memory of Theofield. He will be joined by Gene and Sandy Davis, Theofield's landlords, and Donna Taneyhill, Theofield's best friend at work.