BOONE, Iowa—On a day when the temperature hit the 90° mark, opening ceremonies were held for the 2024 Pufferbilly Days Celebration. The event was held at on the Greenspace stage. Travis Stevenson, with the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Hanson recognized the Pufferbilly Days Parade Grand Marshall George Eckstein. They followed that by Awarding the George and Mary Maybee Volunteer Award to Janet Schultz for her years of service handling the Pufferbilly Days Parade and most recently the return of the Model Railroad Train Show and Swap Meet. Schultz commented that the people that step up to help with both the parade and the train show and swap meet make the events possible.

Janet Schultz recognizes all the people that make up the teams for the Pufferbilly Days Parade and the Model Railroad Train Show and Swamp Meet.

An Opening Ceremony Tradition has been the presentation of the City’s Community Dedication Award. This year, Mayor Eli Stines announced co-recipients for the award, Bill Skare and Kelley Molitor. Skare was nominated for the extra time and effort supporting the community and projects in the community, including both the recruitment of Daisy Brands to Boone and the Mainstreet Iowa designation. He recognized co-recipient Molitor for the years and time she’s has devoted to pursuing the Mainstreet Iowa designation. Kelley Molitor headed the Downtown Boone committee for the past two years as they prepared a successful application to join Mainstreet Iowa. Over that time she headed the committee of public officials, private businesses and property owners, and community supporters in making improvements and building the application that made Boone a Mainstreet Iowa community. Molitor also continues to organize the regular weekly Farmers Market during the season. Molitor also recognized her co-recipient for the City’s support of the Mainstreet designation and all the people that she worked with and looks for to working with the make Boone a successful Mainstreet community.

Boone Mayor Eli Stines with Bill Skare on the left and Kelley Molitor on the right. The Community Recognition Plagues also included a certificate of recognition from Governor Kim Reynolds requested by State Senator Jesse Green of Boone.