BOONE, Iowa—The Pufferbilly Days™ Steering Committee and the Boone County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the naming of the 2022 Pufferbilly Days™ festival grand marshal, John Dawkins.
Dawkins, a Boone resident, retired from a career working for the Union Pacific Railroad (formerly the Chicago and North Western). He has been involved in the Boone community long before retirement, including chairing the Pufferbilly Days™ spike driving contest and model railroad swap meet for several years. Since retiring, Dawkins has become even more involved in the community. He volunteers several days per week at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad as train conductor and helps with special events such as Thomas the Tank Engine and the Pumpkin Trains. During the school year, Dawkins starts his morning at Sacred Heart School, where he volunteers as the crossing guard and bus line referee. He has also been known to prepare lunch for the students in the school kitchen.
Dawkins also volunteers with the Salvation Army Food Pantry. A few years ago, he took it upon himself to create a cookbook using simple ingredients to support patrons of the food pantry. When asked about his cookbook and recipes in it, he comments “it’s so easy, even a school crossing guard can make it!” Dawkins uses his recipes at the Boone County Fair 4-H Food Stand and the Boone Humane Society Soup Supper. Dawkins received the City of Boone Community Dedication Award in 2017.
Dawkins was nominated by Travis Stevenson, General Manager of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad.
The Pufferbilly Days™ festival will take place August 5-7, 2022. Additional information for the 2022 festival will be released soon, including registration for vendors, parade participants, and new events to the schedule. All information will be updated at www.PufferbillyDays.com. If you are interested in volunteering and would like to get involved with Pufferbilly Days™ please reach out to Laura Bade, Event Director, at laura@boonecountychamber.com.
John Dawkins named Grand Marshal for Pufferbilly Days 2022 (photo courtesy Ames Tribune)
