Mint Festival 2017 Grand Marshal

The Mint Festival would like to announce our Mint Festival 2017 Grand Marshal!  Congratulations to Marshall Field!

Marshall and his wonderful wife Gloria have been married for 43 years. They have 5 children together and 7 grandchildren. Marshall served 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

As a farmer, Marshall raised beef cattle & farrow-to-finish hogs, corn, soybeans and peppermint over the years.

Congratulations, again, to Marshall Field for being chosen as the 2017 Mint Festival Grand Marshal!

Special thank you to Thomas Hamilton-Attorney at Law for being the sponsor for the Grand Marshal.

Mint Festival 2015 Grand Marshal - Ben Sakaguchi

Ben Sakaguchi was born in Aldine (Starke County, Indiana) in 1936 to the late Morizo and Namie Sakaguchi.  His father began farming peppermint, spearmint, and Asian vegetables in the North Judson area in 1933 and established Green Acres farm.  He was an early pioneer of processing mint in portable tubs.

Ben married Sandra Spoor in 1968 and, upon his father's retirement in 1969, purchased the entire 200 acre family farm.  He continued farming mint and vegetables for several more years, but eventually phased out mint production and grew only Asian produce for the Chicago markets.  Ben and Sandra are blessed with two children.  Their oldest, Beth (Brian Eccles), returned to North Judson in 1996 and operates a small organic vegetable farm.  Son Chad, an electrical engineer, and his family reside in Bothell, WA.

Ben retired from farming ten years ago and enjoys seeing his grand children and playing a lot of golf.  Ben said, " I am honored to be part of the Mint Festival this year and am thankful for the many friends that I have in the North Judson community."

Joseph E. Smolek, Sr. - Mint Festival 2014 Grand Marshal

Joseph Ernest Smolek, Sr., a second generation mint farmer in Starke and Pulaski counties, was born in Pulaski County on September 20, 1932 to Joseph Peter Smolek and Helen Smolek.  His father was a first generation mint farmer and one of the pioneers of mint farming in Starke and Pulaski counties.  His father took 3 teams of horses up to Michigan and brought back the first mint roots in 1917.  Joe continued his father's passion for mint farming by building his own mint still and operation in 1976 on his Pulaski county farm.  His passion for mint grew as his farm grew.  He started participating in the mint farm tours during the 1980 Mint Festival and continued those for many years.  Joe has also shown many pieces of his farm equipment in the Mint Festival parade.

To this day, Joe continues to be active in the mint farming community.  In 2010, at the age of 78, he was the main operator of the Smolek Farms mint still and at 81 his love for mint farming continues to show through his hard work and devotion.  He has left a lasting impression on future generations, providing his grandchildren many memories from numerous mint seasons.  The memories of mowing, chopping and hauling mint will never be forgotten.  Some of his grandchildren have followed in his footsteps in the farming business and strive to continue the family mint farming tradition.  Thank you, Joe, for your years of service and devotion to the mint world.

 - from the 2014 North Judson Mint Festival Guide