WATHENA, Kan. - Farmers like the Juhl family of Doniphan County know how to pass on their history from one generation to the next.

The proof? Numerous family members participated in Sunday's Wathena Fall Festival Parade, showing spectators just what it means to live and work off the land back to the time of immigrants.

A theme of "Down on the Farm" helped guide parade entrants in designing their floats. Jessica Juhl and her clan were joined by samples of their livestock as the units queued from the high school campus into downtown Wathena. The effort earned them best overall parade entry as selected by judges, said parade chairwoman Pegi Goacher.

"It's a combination of everything we do on our farm," Ms. Juhl said of the float. "We're on our sixth generation of farmers in Doniphan County. The first Juhl came from Denmark and settled here."

Among the nearly 60 other entries was a 1924 Ford Model T Roadster piloted by Wathena resident Fred Lewis and his wife, Luella.

"He resurrected it from a pile of rust," Mrs. Lewis said of her husband's restored classic.

The couple had just driven the roadster in Utah. It has a top speed of 45 mph and cruises on the highway at 35 mph, Mr. Lewis said.

"We've had it all over the country on tours," he said. "They're pretty basic transportation. They're pretty reliable."

Ms. Goacher admitted that some of Wathena's past parades had dwindled in size.

"This was a pretty long parade," she said. "This year was definitely a good turnout."

The festival began in 1957 - Wathena's centennial year - and continued for 25 years before going on hiatus. It was revived again in 2007, Ms. Goacher said.

The three-day community celebration concluded with a greased pig contest music, and open mic contest during the evening.

Heather Reid served as the festival's chairwoman.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.