2024 Foley Fun Days

Her husband directs traffic, her parents set up barriers along the route, and her daughter, Sophia, will comanage the kiddie parade.

“I love walking around and seeing the smiles on people’s faces,” Beauchamp said. “I remember one particular year it was raining and people had umbrellas, but they still went out and watched the parade.” Rain, hail or whatever

conditions Mother Nature throws Foley’s way each June, the festivities persist. Beauchamp said the celebration was canceled only once in her many years of volunteering with the Foley Civic Group for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Foley City Administrator Sarah Brunn said Beauchamp plays a vital role in serving her

neighbors and fellow community members throughout the year.

“Juanita spends hundreds of hours organizing, setting up and making sure our Fun Days events run smoothly. Many do not realize how much work it is to organize a festival as large as Foley Fun Days.”

Foley Police Chief Katie McMillin echoed such sentiment in a nomination letter.

“Juanita is very hardworking and is always willing to help out when she can,” McMillin wrote. “Juanita is a very thorough planner and thinks about things that most people wouldn’t when planning an event. Juanita is the most hard-working and unselfish person I know.”

Showing community pride through pickleball

Open tournament a new addition to Foley Fun Days

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Foley Fun Days has been a staple of the start of summer in Central Minnesota for many years.

Each year, fun wrinkles are introduced to make the celebration all the more spectacular.

For the 2024 edition, the Foley Area Community Foundation is stepping up to provide an athletic spectacle in the form of a pickleball tournament, which will be June 18.

“We’re learning as we go, but we’re hoping for wonderful participation and we’re hoping for wonderful weather,” said Becky Howard, FACF chair.

The idea for a pickleball tournament first sprung into Howard’s mind during a winter brainstorming session with her fellow foundation board members. After talking with longtime Foley Fun Days planner Juanita Beauchamp, the potential event became an exciting

addition to the Foley Fun Days slate.

“We got talking about the possibility of a pickleball tournament and thought, ‘Why not try and incorporate it with Foley Fun Days?’” Howard said. “People are in the town already. They can participate in this and go downtown and have some fun there.”

There is a precedent for the foundation funneling its efforts into putting on largescale sporting events. They used to host fully-funded tennis tournaments, but it had been quite a few years, allowing this year’s pickleball showcase to serve as a return to that tradition — along with a fun new activity that is one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports.

“It appeals to people of all ages,” Howard said. “If you go past the Gilman Community Park, they have a pickleball court there, and it is very busy and very well-used by a wide variety of people.”

In part because of that wide appeal and diversity

the FESTIVITIES!

in interested age groups, the FACF’s upcoming tournament is open to 16 doubles teams, allowing 32 participants in total. Interested pairs can register for the tournament through Foley’s community education program. After that, the squads will be sorted into brackets, and it is game on.

“I don’t think it’s going to be cutthroat, but I think it will be a fun tournament,” Howard said.

Outside of learning the competitive rules and regulations that come with forming a tournament, the foundation is utilizing its manpower to make everything come together in smooth fashion, including lining up sponsors, providing goodie bags and water for attendees and organizing cash prizes for the first-, second- and thirdplace teams. The tournament is free to the public and will offer opportunities for free will donations.

“All of the board members are doing a tremendous job of pulling all of the pieces together,” said

April Burton, donor services coordinator at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, a partner organization with the FACF. “Everybody has a role. … It’s really everybody working together, collaborating to make it a successful day and awesome event.”

Many aspects of the tournament are yet to determined, including the location, which could be indoors or outdoors depending on the weather and how many teams eventually sign up. However, the FACF is excited to work in tandem with its surrounding community to bring something special through sports.

“It just raises awareness about the Foley Area Community Foundation: who they are in Foley, what exactly they do,” said Chrissy Revutskiy, community coordinator at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. “Just having that touchpoint with the community in general and our general public is a nice thing to be able to do.”

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Tuesday, June 18

7:30 a.m. ...................... Medallion Hunt clue posted Foley City Hall. Noon to 10:30 p.m.. ................. Carnival. Downtown.

2 p.m............................... Card games/Board games. American Legion Post 298.

2 p.m. to 8 p.m. . ......... Sidewalk Sales. Downtown. 2:30 p.m. .................................... Reading with Royalty For ages 3-12. Join the newly reigning ambassadors for stories, crafts and snacks. Foley Public Library. 4 p.m. ....................Brodini Comedy Magic Show. Downtown stage. 4 p.m. ......................................Pickleball Tournament. Foley High School tennis courts

5-8 p.m...... Free Grace United Ice Cream Social. Free Grace United.

5-8 p.m................................ Heavenly Hot Rod Show. St. John’s Catholic Church.

5-7:30 p.m. ....................... Live music: Elle Johnson. Downtown Stage.

5-7:30 p.m. .............................................. Kiddie Parade Sign up at 5:45 p.m. Costume contest by Downtown Stage.

6-8 p.m....................... Family Fun Night. Downtown. 6-8 p.m................................................. FFA Petting Zoo. Near Mille Lacs Veterinary Clinic.

7:30-10:30 p.m.. ................ Live music: Grungebox. Downtown Stage.

Wednesday, June 19

7:30 a.m. ...................... Medallion Hunt clue posted Foley City Hall. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ................. CARE Music and Bingo

NOWHIRING

NOWHIRING

PART-TIME FEED SHED SUPPORT

• Afternoon to evening shifts, until close 7pm (weekdays)

• Must be willing to work a rotating weekend schedule

• Heavy lifting, 50# or greater

• Operating machinery

• Assisting customers

FULL-TIME AG SERVICE TECHNICIAN

• Afternoon to evening shifts, 11am - 7pm (weekdays)

• Must be willing to work a rotating weekend schedule

• Heavy lifting, 50# or greater

• Operating machinery

• Assisting customers

• Feed/equipment delivery

• Grain loading/unloading

• Tire repair/mounting

• Hydraulic hose repair

• Pay based on experience

NIGHT TIME MILK TRUCK DRIVER

• Night shifts (weekdays + weekends)

• Must be willing to work a rotating weekend schedule

• Valid license + CDL required + tanker endorsement

• Daily milk pick-up and drop-off

• Cleaning trucks + tanks after deliveries

• Keeping equipment up to regulations

• Pay based on experience

Full-Time Ag Service Director

• Must be willing to work a rotating weekend schedule

• Heavy lifting, 50# or greater

• Receiving physical inventory

• Assisting customers

• Hydraulic hose repair

• Pay based on experience

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Health, Dental, Eye Insurance*

• 401k + HSA*

• Brand + Store Discounts

• Flexible Schedule

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Standout applicants

• Have previous experience

• Maintain good character and judgement

• Are motivated and hardworking

• Are eager to take on new challenges and projects

• Have or can obtain a CDL*

*Required for Milk Truck Drivers

*Preferable for Truck Bay Members

Foley Ambassadors

Paige Bosshart

Sponsored by Jack and Jim’s Inc

Paige is the daughter of Jon and Jackie Bosshart. She is sister to Grace, 14, Audrey, 11, Emily, 9, Hailey, 8, Isaac, 6, and Chloe, 4. She is 16 years old and a sophomore at Foley High School.

Community and school activities: Swimming and diving team, track and field, Unified Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, student council and volunteering for my church.

What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? I have wanted to be a part of the program since I was little. I never actually signed up for it, but my little sister was a Little Miss Foley, and I thought this was a good opportunity to now run for ambassador.

What do you enjoy most about the Foley community? I love how our community works together to achieve greater things and to help others out. There are many ways we do this, but my favorite is probably the CROSS Center here in Foley. I’ve seen many people from our community donate what they can to help others.

If you could start a business in Foley, what would it be? Of all the businesses I could start, I would love to start a small woodworking business. How would you help others to feel welcome in our community? It would either be a bakery because every small town should have a good bakery, or a place for teenagers to go and play games, meet new people and have a safe place to go.

If you would make one improvement to the city, what would you do? TI would create more volunteer groups that would allow our community to come together and restore parts of our town. These groups could do something like get together and clean up trash around our city or raise money and help repair some areas of our town that need it.

Foley Junior Ambassadors

Lauren Harris

Lauren is the daughter of Chris and Julie Harris. She is sister to Landon, 17, Liam, 15, and Lynora, 9. She is 11 years old and finished fifth grade at Foley Intermediate School.

Danica Macho

Tell us a little about yourself. I like making bracelets and painting. I also like to help out with my little sister. What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? Meeting new people and doing new things. What are three words you would use to describe the Foley community? Fabulous, amazing and great.

How do you make a difference in the Foley community? I want to be more involved in the Foley community and that’s what inspired me to do this.

What is your favorite event or aspect of Foley Fun Days? The parade. I like it because I like seeing all the people and my friends on the floats.

Sponsored

Danica is the daughter of Nathan and Katie Macho and sister to Bradley, 14. She is 17 years old and a junior at Foley High School.

Community and school activities: I am a coach for Just For Kix, and I also am on the Foley High School dance team. What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? What attracted me to become an ambassador was how much fun I had being a junior ambassador. I wanted to run for ambassador as well when I got old enough.

Little Miss Foley

Betty Stauffenecker

Daughter of Nick and Katie Stauffenecker

What do you like to do in Foley?

Going to the library, swimming, school, Holdridge Park, Lions Park, and ice cream at Blue Ribbon Café (chocolate cone).

What do you enjoy most about the Foley community? Everyone pretty much knows each other, and there are a lot of volunteer opportunities. If you could start a business in Foley, what would it be? I would put up a kids center (not a daycare) because I feel like there aren’t a lot of places for kids to go and have fun. Some kids age out or grow up too fast to where they think daycare isn’t something they want to do, so a kid’s center would be something good for the community.. How would you help others to feel welcome in our community? I would bring them to some of the activities we do with the school or with the community, because we do a lot of things with the community in summer. If you would make one improvement to the city, what would you do? It would probably be making more natural trails through the city or making some of the old buildings look more refreshed.

To be eligible for the Little Miss Foley Program, candidates must be age 7 by June 1. Candidates must be residents of Foley or its surrounding community. The Little Miss Foley program takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 15. This is not a judged event. As a reigning Little Miss Foley, selected candidates will participate in Foley Fun Days events and the parade and represent Foley in other areas and events.

Paislee Bauman Daughter of Kyle and Carrie Bauman

What do you like to do in Foley? Take trips to the library, go to the Lions Park, take bike rides, be actively involved with Community Ed activities, and go to local businesses with my family.

Colby Dumonceaux

Daughter of Jeremy and Rachel Dumonceaux

What do you like to do in Foley? Go the library with my grandma.

Charlotte Olk

Daughter of Ryan and Leah Olk

What do you like to do in Foley? Getting Ice cream at Blue Ribbon, being at school, and going to the park.

What does a perfect summer day look like? The sun is out, trees are green and people are having fun.

Tell us a little about yourself. I am an athletic, kindhearted person.

What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? did it last year and wanted to try again. What are three words you would use to describe the Foley community? Fun, kind and unique

What does a perfect summer day look like? Going to Foley pool and swimming with friends.

How do you make a difference in the Foley community? Through 4-H. I volunteer my time with bell ringing, adopting families at Christmas and making crafts for the people at the nursing home.

What is your favorite event or aspect of Foley Fun Days? My favorite used to be the water wars with the different fire departments, but now it would be the parade.

Lyla Timpe

Lyla is the daughter of Clayton and Christina Timpe and is sister to James, 12, Juliana, 8, Weston, 5, and Eva, 1. She is 11 years old and finished fifth grade at Foley Intermediate School.

Tell us a little about yourself. I am involved in 4-H, band and Girl Scouts. I like to play softball, bake, fish and swim. What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? I want to become a junior ambassador of Foley because my sister, Juliana, was Little Miss Foley and she had a lot of fun. I also like that I can represent my town. What are three words you would use to describe the Foley community? Exciting, safe and scenic.

What does a perfect summer day look like? A perfect summer day would start by getting breakfast at Foley Family Restaurant, then going bike riding at the Lions Park trails. After that, I would go to the Foley pool. Finally, I would go get some hot dogs from Grand Champion Meats and cook them on a campfire at home.

How do you make a difference in the Foley community? By working hard in school, cleaning up garbage along the roads and after the Gilman Days, and being involved in several Foley activities.

What is your favorite event or aspect of Foley Fun Days? The parade because it is fun to watch, and you get to hang out with people.

Audrey is the daughter of Jon and Jackie Bosshart. She is sister to Paige, 16, Grace, 14, Emily, 9, Hailey, 8, Isaac, 6, and Chloe, 4. She is 11 years old and finished fifth grade at Foley Intermediate School.

Tell us a little about yourself. I love to volunteer and support my community as much as I can and love being around other people.

What attracted you to become an ambassador candidate? I’ve wanted to be a Foley junior ambassador candidate since I was little, and this gives you so many opportunities that other things wouldn’t get you.

What are three words you would use to describe the Foley community? Fun, kind and respectful.

What does a perfect summer day look like? A perfect summer day looks like people being outside and taking care of the community.

How do you make a difference in the Foley community? Just by volunteering or taking care of the outdoors helps a lot.

What is your favorite event or aspect of Foley Fun Days? The parade because I like to see all of the different floats and people.

by Grand Champion Meats

Audrey Bosshart

Kaydence Rudolph

Kaydence is the daughter of Kraig and Alicia Rudolph and is sister to Kraig, 11. She is 13 years old and finished sixth grade at Foley Intermediate School.