July 9 Ridge and Valley Ralley celebrating 29 years in Seneca
Marci and Gary Payne will be the parade marshals for the Seneca Ridge and Valley Rally this year on Saturday, July 9.
The 29th annual Seneca Ridge and Valley Ralley will be Saturday, July 9.
Plan to spend the day in Seneca, as there is plenty to do for the whole family.
Starting at 7:30 a.m., there is a 5K Walk-Run/10K Run. Check-in for this activity is between 6:30 and 7 a.m.
The big event, the parade, will be at 11 a.m. on the highway passing through the community. Parade entries from across the area are encouraged.
To follow, enjoy a Smoked Pork Chop Dinner, starting around noon. Then, there will be a pie auction a 1 p.m., along with an Antique Tractor Pull, also at 1 p.m.
The afternoon will offer a few tournaments for the competitors in the family. Bean bags will begin at 2 p.m. and euchre will happen at 4 p.m. There is a small fee to participate in euchre, but no pre-registration.
Throughout the day will be a volleyball tournament, free kids’ games, a food and beverage stand by the fire department, and cash and basket raffle drawings. There will be something for everyone.
The 2022 parade marshals for the Ridge and Valley Rally will be Gary and Marci Payne.
Gary and Marci have lived in Seneca their entire lives. Gary is a 1983 Seneca graduate and Marci a 1982 graduate. They have been married for 35 years. They have two sons, Tyler (Kate) and Trenton (Logan), and four grandchildren, Rylee, Lincoln, Camden and Dekker.
Gary works for Waste Management in Prairie du Chien, and Marci recently retired from teaching at Seneca Schools. She taught in Seneca for 32 years, and in the Wauzeka School District for three years. In her years as an educator, she implemented Grandparent and Thanksgiving programs and invited grandparents, parents and community members into the school. During the holidays, she and her students visited Seneca homes and sang Christmas carols, and she had students send letters to those who lost a loved one or were experiencing an illness. Each spring, her classes picked up litter around the Seneca Community.
Both Gary and Marci have been actively involved in the Seneca community. Gary has coached junior high basketball, varsity summer basketball league, little league baseball, and has umpired games as well. Marci coached junior high girls/boys basketball and little league baseball. She is a current member of the Seneca Education Foundation and the Arts and Environmental Committee. She taught CCD at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where they are members. Marci continues to stay involved with the Seneca School District by subbing and serving on school-based committees. She has directed the Ridge and Valley parade route for many years.
In their free time, they love to spend time with their grandchildren, family and friends.
