65th Posen Potato Festival in the books with another great event

September 15, 2016November 11, 2016 Editor

by Peter Jakey
Managing Editor
With the return of field events and a headlining band Saturday night, Posen had a pretty good weekend.
Folks from across northeast Michigan joined Posenites for the 65th annual Posen Potato Festival and it was a grand celebration. The rain dampened festivities Saturday, but it just got bigger Sunday for the wrap-up day.
The festival is the party before the potato harvest, which usually starts in the days, if not weeks after the three-day weekend.

RIDING IN Sunday’s grand parade in Posen, Clarence and Bernadine Hincka did it their way. No fancy vehicles, just polished up heavy duty equipment the Hincka family uses for its logging business. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

“I think it went very well,” said first year Posen Chamber of Commerce president Andrea Konwinski. “I think our numbers were up. We brought in more people with the bump n run being back.”
The stands were packed both Saturday and Sunday.
“The Tommy K concert was full,” said Konwinski. “That brought in a lot of people. It was nice to have a hometown boy back. They just put on a good show.”
Additionally, he entertained at the Posen ball field before the parade and during it as they rode on a flat bed.
“What an awesome time that we had,” said Tommy K. “We were even asked back for next years festival. Nothing but great feedback. It was great to finally perform back in my hometown. The welcome home was incredible.”
The numbers at the polka pavilion were solid Friday night and Saturday afternoon. “Sunday was wonderful, it was full,” she said.
Clarence Sr. and Bernadine Hincka were the parade marshals. They sat in the bucket of a front loader, waving enthusiastically to the crowds and throwing out candy and snacks.
The Hinckas had their own parade within the parade, with family members on heavy equipment. The Hinckas also had their employees along for the ride.
Tania Styma and the rest of her court were just ahead of them on the Miss Posen float.
Members of Posen Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7804 had 14 march in the parade with Hillman, Onaway and Rogers City involved. There were four members of the Posen auxiliary in the parade.
The Posen VFW dinner was down by about 100 to 331. The bad weather that rolled in during the afternoon Saturday is blamed for sending a lot of people home. The breakfast Sunday was about 345, on par with previous years.
Posen Area Fire & Rescue had its dinner Saturday and were reportedly down.
The potato pancake dinner Sunday was up to 1,051 meals served to adults and 25 children. They needed 40, 50-pound bags of potatoes, 150 pounds of carrots and 70 heads of cabbage.

> The parade winners are as follows: most beautiful St. Ignatius PTG/St. Ignatius Rosary Sodality, honorable mention Miss Posen pageant float; most original Posen Citizens Academic Council/Viking robotics, honorable mention 1947 wrecker tow service; best musical, Rock Show by Tommy K band’ honorable mention Posen village, Anne and her Polka Pals; most humorous, Fur Babies of Rogers City, honorable mention Buff Man Adventures ; best entry by a service organization Knights of Columbis, honorable mention, St. Casimir ; United We Stand (most patriotic), VFW Post 7804, honorable mention WATZ tunnel to towers.