The flags are flying and scarecrows line Main Street, welcoming Rosetown’s 10th annual Harvest Family Festival. The scarecrows have been a part of the family event for the past 9 years and have become a welcomed tradition.

Every year, Walter Asletine’s grade 6 students look forward to the week before the festival when they get to create their own scarecrow that will become a part of the festival’s decorations. The students are joined by members of the Harvest Festival Committee for the creative and often messy task.

Rome Molsberry said the idea came about when fellow Harvest Festival Committee member, Penny Andersen, was doing a scarecrow window display for the bank she works at. It was mentioned that she should put on a class teaching others how to create the scarecrows. That ‘class’ ended up becoming comprised of the elementary school’s grade 6 classes and has been as such for 9 of the festivals 10 years and is highly anticipated by students.

 “Walking into the school on Tuesday a grade 5er said, ‘Oh, I’m so excited because next year I get to do scarecrows,’” shared Molsberry.

This year, Molsberry and Andersen lent 2 of their mornings teaching and helping the 66 students with their masterpieces. Students personalize their scarecrows with old clothing and head-ware brought from home, and there’s often hockey or football loving scarecrows in the bunch.

The scarecrows take their places early on the Sunday morning of the festival week. Every year during the festival, the little artists are excited to spot their creation on whichever bench, tree or post their very own scarecrow resides.