Bodie Janes, 15, of Finney, Ky., sits under a canopy near his backyard garden at his home in southern Barren County. He was announced Friday as the grand marshal in this year’s Barren Co. Christmas Parade. Pictured also is Petunia, one of many chickens at his farm.
(WCLU NEWS FILE PHOTO)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Officials announced Friday evening that this year’s Barren County Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, and will include a local teen farmer as the parade’s grand marshal.
Entertain Glasgow, the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce and Barren Inc. made the announcement at a concert held downtown Friday. The three entities will host the parade.
“Get out your Hawaiian shirts, leis, and Christmas palm trees ready for this year’s theme, ‘An Aloha Christmas,’” a news release said. “Aloha, means love, peace, and compassion, which represents the Christmas spirit, and originates from Hawaii where it’s summer year-round.”
Bodie Janes, 15, of Finney, will headline the parade as its marshal. He is also known as the “Barefoot Farmer of Finney Holler” because he prefers to work his growing garden while barefoot. He started a garden during the height of the pandemic as “something to do.”
He was also notified a few months ago that he was one of two recipients in the region who would receive a USDA grant to build a greenhouse at his farm.
“Bodie was selected to be this year’s grand marshal due to his hard work, dedication, and commitment to one of Barren County’s largest sectors – agriculture,” the news release said.
While on summer break, Bodie sells produce each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wyatt’s Oil located at 1304 S Green St. in Glasgow.
Bodie is the son of Brian and Stacy Janes.
The parade application will be released Oct. 1 and will be due no later than Nov. 18. Those registering by Oct. 31 will receive the “early bird rate,” which is $25 per float. The cost increases to $50 afterward.
