Annette and James Bemis are the 2024 grand marshals for the Wyben Fourth of July Parade.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo by Amy Porter
WESTFIELD — The Wyben Fourth of July Committee has announced that Annette and James “Jim” Bemis, “outstanding members of the Wyben community,” will be the 2024 grand marshals for this year’s parade.
Sue Crane, a member of the parade committee along with Tim Crane, Crystal Bryant, Carlee Collins, Ryan Karolides, Bob Allen and Dan Puza, said the selection is well deserved.
“Annette has resided her entire life on the Gary Farm, and Jim joined her when they married in 1988. Annette’s father Charles [Gary], with his mother and sister, purchased the house and 59 acres of land in the 1930s. Annette’s mother Norma arrived after she and Charles married in 1946. They began dairy farming soon thereafter. Together they raised seven children on the farm,” Crane said.
Four of the adult children still reside in Westfield. Annette Bemis is the one who chose to carry on the tradition of dairy farming and decided to continue to call their homestead, which is located at 4 Wyben Rd., the Gary Farm.
Crane said the Bemises have continuously farmed while raising their two children, Ben and Barbara, who are now adults. She said 4-H was an integral part of the family’s life as they showed their cows at all the local fairs, bringing home lots of blue ribbons.
Both Ben Bemis and Barbara Bemis continued the family tradition as members of the 4-H community. Additionally they were great students, Barbara Bemis the valedictorian of Westfield High School in 2010, and Ben Bemis following his passion and love for farming, Crane said. Ben Bemis graduated from SUNY Cobleskill with a degree in agriculture and Barbara Bemis from the University of Maine with a degree in bioengineering.
Barbara Bemis fondly remembers 4-H being a huge part of her social and recreational life growing up. She appreciates her family’s passions for many outdoor activities. She describes her parents as strong, quiet, private people who are willing to jump in to help when needed, Crane said.
Annette Bemis retired from Westfield Public Schools as a preschool paraprofessional in 2017, and a year later Jim Bemis retired as a construction supervisor.
“As a retired couple, Annette continues to enjoy feeding and caring for the cows, working in her beautiful and bountiful flower and vegetable gardens, and Jim is the ‘maintenance man’ for all of the family’s farm equipment. Jim loves all types of fishing while Annette enjoys hosting her large extended family for holidays and special occasions,” Crane said.
The Bemises have found various ways to support the Wyben community over the years, by helping to build a creche, adding live animals to the nativity at the Wyben Union Chapel, and participating in the yearly Easter egg hunt.
The family accessorized and rode on many floats and quads in the Wyben Parade over the years, and volunteered at the Wyben Association booth at the Westfield Fair. Annette Bemis continues to decorate the garden triangle at North and Montgomery roads for the Christmas season each year. She was one of the original Garden Club members who helped with the garden triangle. Jim Bemis is always willing to lend a hand to a neighbor by plowing or volunteering his tractor for the Wyben Parade, Crane said.
Long-term friends of the family describe the Bemises as grounded in their family, home and farm. The Bemises’ home is Wyben, as they treasure their gorgeous property with amazing views of the hills, fields, gardens and their cows.
The theme for this year’s parade is “American Superheroes.”
“From the iconic figures of comic books to the everyday heroes in our community, this year’s parade will be a tribute to all who embody courage, justice and the American spirit,” Crane said.
Antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, quads, decorated floats and anything old are welcome to join the parade. Members of the Westfield Police and Fire departments will be riding in their cars and fire engines. American Legion Post 124, along with Mayor Michael McCabe, state Sen. John Velis, state Rep. Kelly Pease and Councilor Nicholas Morganelli plan to march.
Members of Westfield’s High School and Middle School marching bands will provide patriotic music. Harry Rock and with his wife Ann Rock will broadcast the parade from beginning to end for WCPC, the Westfield cable television channel. All acts are welcome to join, march and celebrate this Independence Day, Crane said.
Participants for the parade, which always takes place on July 4, rain or shine, are asked to line up at the junction of Montgomery and North roads beginning at 4:30 p.m. The march begins at 5 p.m., following Montgomery Road to finish at West Road.
