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Date: 6/28/2023
WESTFIELD — “It is such an honor to have David and Kathy Porter as the grand marshals of the 2023 Fourth of July Wyben Parade,” said Parade Committee member Sue Crane.
David and Kathy Porter are the third generation to reside on their family homestead, Walnut Hill Farm, in Wyben. Their home was built in 1863 and purchased by David’s grandparents, Kenneth and Sarah Porter, in 1937. Kenneth was one of the founding members of the Wyben Association, and David and Kathy Porter are longtime volunteers at the Wyben Association booth at the Westfield Fair.
As with David’s grandparents and parents, the families have been very involved in the Wyben community ever since. Years ago, David Porter drove his tractor in the much enjoyed Halloween Hay Ride for both children and adults, and helped to organize the noontime picnics on Independence Day. Since the 1980s, the Porters have decorated a “float” — their hay wagon, proudly pulled by their tractor — in the neighborhood Independence Day parade.
Kathy Porter is the gardener who has lovingly cared for the Triangle Garden in the traffic island at Montgomery and North roads since 1995. She manages to plant, weed, water and organize the garden weekly through the spring and well into the fall. New plantings are flowers and plants she purchases or ones that she transplants from her own garden. Every day that Sue Crane is out for a run or walk, she said she admires and appreciates the Triangle Garden, as do others living in Wyben and the surrounding communities.
Kathy also arranges cut flowers in bouquets weekly for members of the Wyben Chapel to enjoy at the Sunday services from April through October.
Kathy and David Porter have been married for 41 years. They have four adult children and two grandchildren. Kathy was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School and David of Westfield High School, where he played the French horn.
Three generations of Porters worked as dairy farmers until 2001. David finished his career as a commercial truck driver and retired in 2020. Kathy Porter continues to work part-time for Big Y, where she has been employed for 20 years.
David continues his love for farming, now as a hobby — he helps others with raising their animals — and he enjoys reading historical fiction and mysteries.
Crane said of note, David’s parents lived with them on the family farm for over 30 years. She said the Porters are grateful for the time they had with them and for the time their children got to spend with their grandparents.
Known for giving back to the community, including Kathy Porter’s “100 pints and counting” to the American Red Cross, the Porters have been pillars of the Wyben community in the northwestern corner of Westfield.
This year’s parade theme is “Say It with Music.” Wyben’s own Ed Bentley will sing and play guitar during the parade, and members of the Westfield High School band will play their instruments. Sue Crane, a member of the parade committee, is hoping to increase musical performances for this year’s parade route, and is asking musicians to play their instruments as they march or ride on a float or wagon, and to contact the committee if someone needs a ride. Committee members are Jim Bemis, Crystal Bryant, Carlee Collins, Tim and Sue Crane, Ryan Karolides and Dan Puza. All acts are welcome to join, march and celebrate this Independence Day, Crane said, as are antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, quads and more. Other participants will include local elected officials and public safety departments.
Harry Rock and his wife Ann will broadcast the parade from beginning to end for WCPC, Channel 15 on Westfield cable television. The parade lines up at 4:30 p.m. at Montgomery and North roads, then steps off at 5 p.m. down Montgomery Road, ending at West Road.