This year’s Sports Day Parade Grand Marshall, Jim Lynch, has deep roots in the Iroquois community. Jim’s family established their farm and home near Iroquois 135 years ago.

The parade will begin Saturday, July 20, at 10:30 a.m. in Iroquois. This year’s theme is “Down on the Farm.”

Members of the Lynch family have lived in and around Iroquois since October 1889. Jim’s great-grandparents, Edward and Susan Lynch, arrived at Iroquois, Dakota Territory, with their five children. They had traded their farm in Kansas for a half section in Banner Township, Beadle County. Their new farm, two miles west of Iroquois, had a small house, a barn and a rhubarb patch.

Three months after they arrived, their well went dry, and the family had to haul water from Pearl Creek for the next three years. Despite facing hard winters and a rough beginning, the Lynch family stayed and endured.

Through the years, five generations of Lynch’s have lived on the same land. Jim and his family moved to town in 1990, when his daughter Emily was a year old. The farm continues to be owned by the Lynch family.

Jim served four years on the Banner Township board, 20 years on the Iroquois city council, 18 of which as mayor. He is also a 32-year volunteer firefighter for the Iroquois Fire & Rescue, serving as chief and assistant chief during that time.

Jim was a member of the Iroquois Housing team for five years, and CCD teacher at St. Paul’s for 20 years. He is proud to call Iroquois his home. Jim and his wife Sandy have one daughter, Emily, son-in-law Ty, and two granddaughters.

Sports Days activities

On Saturday, the parade will be held at 10:30 a.m., and there is a change in the parade line up and route. Those interested in participating in the parade should line up on old Highway 14, entering near the cemetery. The route will proceed down Ottawa Street, then turning west on Washita Street (by post office and bank) and continuing to the school.

A kids’ bike parade will lead the way. Prizes will be awarded and a candy toss will follow. Other activities on Saturday include a Firemen’s breakfast, Legion lunch, vendor fair, car show, bean bag tournament, Great Plains Zoo Exhibit, bouncy houses and dunk tank, and mud volleyball. Fireworks will conclude the day.

Sunday will wind down with breakfast at the Legion and church in the park. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate.