Pastor Brad and Amy Peterson named Grand Marshals for Pickle Fest

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By Missy Klatt

BOYCEVILLE – While younger than a lot of the previous Grand Marshals, it is fitting that Brad and Amy Peterson have been named as Grand Marshals for this year’s Pickle Fest as the theme is “Return of the Pickle”, playing homage to Star Wars. Pastor Brad just happens to be the biggest Star Wars fan in Boyceville.

Brad remarks that it’s nice to be nominated and thought that we are having an impact on the community, especially knowing so many wonderful people who have been Grand Marshals before. “I think our contributions pale in comparison to some of theirs, but it is a nice feeling.”

Amy, who grew up in Barron and later graduated from UW- Eau Claire and went on to get her master’s degree at St. Mary’s in Winona, was actually the first one to the community when she took her first teaching position at Boyceville in 2000. Amy usually teaches 7th, 8th and 9th grade science but sometimes has a section of social studies. Before marrying Brad she commuted from Menomonie.

Brad grew up in Plano, Illinois and went to Eastern Illinois University where he received a BS degree in Zoology with a teacher’s certification. However, it was during his junior year that he decided that God had other plans for him and after graduating from college, he headed off to Luther Seminary in St. Paul and in 2002 he found his way to Boyceville where he took his first call which was at the time a two point call between Trinity and Our Saviors in Wheeler. In 2003 when the two churches separated, Brad stayed on at Trinity Lutheran in Boyceville and has been there ever since.

Neither thought that they would still be working in the community when they first came, but coming together probably had a lot to do with their staying.

Brad and Amy were set up on a blind date and the rest is history as they say. But they have a former student’s parent and also a member of Trinity to thank for setting up the date. Amy relates that they thought it might be a good match and she concurs, “And it ended up to be a good match.” Brad agrees, “It did.”

That first date was in January of 2004. The date started when they met at the Acoustic Café in Menomonie and progressed to dinner. Brad takes over the story and explains that they originally were supposed to go to the former Parkside for dinner but he was so busy talking, he drove right by and drove right to Applebee’s. He goes on, “She waited until the food came to say I guess we’re not going to…and I had two thoughts, number one is oops but also the fact that she kind of waited and we laughed about it and I thought I think she’s a keeper already.” They were married in 2005.

In response as to how it feels to be asked to be the Grand Marshals even though they are a bit younger, Brad states that it’s a reminder of how long they’ve been a part of the community. He remembers his very first Pickle Fest very clearly (he’d only been here 2 or 2 1/2 weeks at the time) and says that he couldn’t wrap his head around how large the town got for Pickle Fest. He was blown away about how big a deal Pickle Fest was for the community.

Amy agrees that it’s a reminder of how long they have had ties here in the community and what a good community it can be. And she adds that hopefully she can win at BINGO this year.

As for other Pickle Fest activities Amy said usually she watches the parade from her front porch but now she’ll have to be in it, she chuckles. She’s looking forward to the fun walk on Saturday morning.

Brad said that they have a tradition where their niece, Ashley comes and spends the weekend with them for Pickle Fest. She is currently in high school and soon that tradition will be harder to carry on as she gets older so Brad is looking forward to having her here for the weekend and letting her be kind of a mini Grand Marshal with them.

Another thing Brad is looking forward to is the fly in breakfast – something he usually doesn’t partake of as he is usually getting ready for his weekly worship service. This year they have an intern at church so he’ll have the time to enjoy the breakfast before worship. He is also looking forward to being in the horse parade, not as the pooper scooper.

Amy thinks her students will think that it’s kind of cool that she’ll be the Grand Marshal and others probably won’t even know what a Grand Marshal is, she laughs. Amy does a middle school quiz bowl twice a year during their home room time. So maybe she’ll have to a Pickle Fest question in there this year.

One change this year is that Brad had to ask for the Trinity Float, which is usually near the front of the line, to be put towards the back so that he is able to hop on there after he gets through the parade as the Grand Marshal.

Among Amy’s hobbies she likes to cross stitch, crochet and read. She also likes to bake but doesn’t do it as much anymore, as she remarks she doesn’t need to eat all of it. Disneyana, collecting Disney memorabilia and going to the Disney parks is by far one of her biggest passions. This is something that she did with her mom, so for her it’s very nostalgic.

Brad has jumped on the band wagon and together they have gone on many trips to Disney, although Brad still has a ways to go before he can catch up with Amy. Amy figures she has been to Disney World 50 times, Disneyland 12 times and Disney Paris once. Brad has been to Disney World about 35 times, Disneyland 8 times and Disney Paris once. As response to why so many trips to the same place, they said that there is always something new and always something to do.

Brad also enjoys playing golf, announcing at the high school football games and collecting Star Wars memorabilia, especially Yoda items. And when Disney bought Star Wars it was a great day at the Peterson house, as Brad says it was our two passions merging together as one.

The couple also likes to hang with their dog, a miniature schnauzer named Kapono which means ‘righteous’ in Hawaiian, which they found out later during a trip to Hawaii. They also like to go to Wild hockey games, the only sports team that they both like to root for, as Brad is a Bears and Cubs fan and Amy a Vikings and Twins fan.

They are both looking forward to having the festival once again after being shut down with Covid last year.