This Saturday, July 27 promises to be a full day of pure fun with more than 100 local businesses, organizations and individuals taking part. It all begins early with the Amish Buggy Classic 5K Race. An Amish-driven buggy actually leads the 100 plus runners at the starting line. At 11 a.m. the entertainment begins with “The PopTarts” performing a decade of top hit favorites from the best of the 60s girl groups and female pop singers. The parking lots of Great Lakes Outdoor Supply and the Middlefield Fire Department (just north of the main light in Middlefield) will be jam-packed with bounce houses, barrel train rides, a dunk tank as well as local food vendors and businesses who will sell and display goods and services.
At 1 pm, more than 70 area businesses and civic groups will parade from the south into downtown and up through the Summer Fest entertainment area. This year the Grand Parade Marshal is Roy Rogers Jr. (better known as Dusty). Dusty has history in the Middlefield area. His father, Roy Rogers knew the White Brothers who owned and operated the largest grocery store in Geauga County. The brothers built a new facility in Middlefield in the late 60s, which is now the building occupied by Great Lakes Outdoor Supply. Roy Jr. came to the Grand Opening and while he was here, began dating a local girl, Linda Yoder and ended up marrying her. They stayed in the area a few years but then returned to Apple Valley, Calif. where his parents Roy and Dale (Evans) Rogers resided. He is very involved in running his father’s business and museum and also has a cowboy band. Linda Rogers is sister-in-law to Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich and both families plan to reunite early in the week and then enjoy the weekend at Middlefield Summer Fest. Roy Jr. will perform the National Anthem immediately following the parade.
Later, Raelynn DeBevits, a local country singer will perform and then emcee for the performances of the five finalists of the Middlefield Has Talent Too contest. A cornhole tournament will commence at 3 p.m. All afternoon there will be fun family activities like balloon animals, a BMX Show, Mark’s Magic Show and Rocket Car rides. Many bands of different styles will play on throughout the afternoon and into the evening. A softball tournament sponsored by the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce will take place throughout the day at various Middlefield Village parks. The grand finale of the Middlefield Summer Fest will be the fireworks, launching at 9:45 p.m.
Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr.
People often comment how difficult it must be for Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. to stand on stage in his father’s shadow. Dusty quickly responds, “As Roy’s son, it is NOT my job to stand in my father’s shadow; but, it IS my job to lengthen it, and that is what I try to do on stage every day.” As the only natural born son of Roy Rogers and raised by the famous entertainment couple, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Dusty has been acting and performing since birth. As a small child, Dusty appeared in his parents’ TVseries “The Roy Rogers Show” on NBC. He performed with his parents during their summer tours at rodeos and state fairs. As a young man, he appeared in the movies “To Forgive a Thief” for Cathedral Films and “Arizona Bushwhackers” for Paramount Films. He was a disc jockey for WBKC in Chardon, Ohio, and has made numerous radio appearances throughout the United States. Dusty had his own television show on WEWS out of Cleveland, Ohio, “The Roy Rogers Jr. Show.” Other TV appearances throughout the years have included the Dennis Hunt Show in Las Vegas, The Tommy Hunter Show in Canada, KMEX Television in Los Angeles, Nashville Network’s I- 40 Paradise, The John Davidson Show, Entertainment Tonight, The Merv Griffin Show, The Fall Guy,
Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, FOX & Friends, and he currently appears weekly on RFD-TV.
Prior to assuming his music career full time, Dusty ran his own construction company. In 1986, he released his biography, “Growing Up With Roy & Dale.” In 1989, he became manager for Roy Rogers. Shortly thereafter, Dusty served as President of the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum-a California 501c(3) nonprofit-until its closing in December 2009.
As for entertaining, it was only a matter of time before Dusty followed in the footsteps of his parents and launched his own recording career. He formed his own band, The High Riders, in 1982. He has recorded for Chart Records in Nashville, Teletex Records in Dallas, and Vistone Records in Los Angeles. Dusty’s singing has taken him to many concert halls and dinner houses throughout the United States and Canada. In 2003 and 2004, he had the distinct honor of performing at the esteemed Carnegie Hall in New York. From 2003 through 2009, Dusty performed in his very own “Happy Trails Theatre” in Branson, Missouri, located inside the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum. In 2010, Dusty moved his show to the Mickey Gilley Theatre in Branson where he continues to perform his live morning show. This year in 2012, Dusty will be performing in the afternoons at RFD-TV The Theatre, in Branson, MO. During off-season in Branson, “Roy Rogers Jr. and The High Riders” take the show on the road to perform at various venues, festivals, and conventions. In the spring of 2008, Dusty’s son -Dustin Roy Rogers-joined his father on stage to sing in the tradition of his father and grandfather before him.
Whether appearing by himself or with his band and son, you will experience a wide variety of emotions as you listen to Dusty sing. You will appreciate his transparency as he shares with the audience stories of growing up with his famous parents as only Dusty can do. Dusty continues the legacy of Roy Rogers & Dale Evans by providing quality entertainment for the entire family. An honor of which he is very proud, FAME (Families Advocating Moral Entertainment) named Roy Rogers Jr. their 2009 and 2010 “Western Artist of the Year.” Visit the website for more information.
Middlefield Summer Fest Schedule
July 27: Middlefield Summer Fest
(Saturday) Schedule of events
8 a.m. – Registration for the 5K race (Grove Street Pavilion)
11 a.m. – Musical entertainment by The Pop Tarts, food vendors and bounce houses open for the day.
1 p.m. – Parade (beginning at Third Dimension and travel north on Old State Road to the Middlefield Municipal Building) Click here for parade entry form. Following the parade, the Grand Parade Marshal Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. will sing the National Anthem.
2 – 3 p.m. – Musical entertainment by Raelynn Debevits. She will then emcee for the performances of the five finalists of the Middlefield Has Talent contest. There will also be barrel train rides by The Trumbull County Antique Tractor Club.
3 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament
3 – 4 p.m. – Mark’s Magic Show
3 – 6 p.m. – Fundraiser at Dunk Tank for “Shop With A Cop”
3 – 5 p.m. – Rocket Car Rides
4 p.m. – BMX Show by Dialed Action Sports Team, Balloon animals
5 – 7 p.m. – Classic rock music by the band Alter Ego
7:30 – 9:45 p.m. – Music by the band The Round to Its featuring Cardinal High School teacher, Candi Peters
9:45 p.m. – Fireworks
Note – Middlefield Summer Fest is a combined event of The Taste of Middlefield sponsored by the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce and Community Days.
*Additional events for the day include a dunk tank where people will have the opportunity to dunk local police officers and firemen. All proceeds from the dunk tank will go towards Shop with a Cop. There will also be a softball tournament going on through out the day at Village parks.
