2026 GRAND MARSHAL

Wauneta Harvest Committee members are saying a sincere “thank you!” to Michelle Harchelroad by naming her Harvest Fest grand marshal, noting there are is more loyal or dedicated supporter of the Wauneta community than Michelle. “For everything the community sees her stepping up to do, there is so much more she does quietly behind the scenes without notice,” they said.

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But in return, Michelle says she is the one who wants to say “thank you” to her hometown, thank you for her childhood here, thank you for helping raise her family in a safe, loving atmosphere, thank you to loyal customers and dedicated employees and thank you for the support when life has delivered some blows.

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Still it’s a fact, Michelle and her family have gone above and beyond for Wauneta. Over the decades, Michelle and her late husband, Brian, have been major donors to virtually every community-betterment effort and event imaginable, a family tradition which Michelle remains committed to. 

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The Harchelroad name has been synonymous with downtown Wauneta for nearly 100 years. It was Michelle and her employees who stepped up and kept the business going following the untimely death of her husband in 2019.  “The team here at Harchelroad’s made that happen. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone pulling together,” says Michelle. Since then the business has evolved and is no longer a car dealership, instead they now focus on the farm implement side of things, including equipment sales, parts and repairs, as well as their autobody repair business located in Imperial.

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While selecting her as grand marshal is the Wauneta Chamber’s way of shining a light on all Michelle means to the town, she is quick to heap praise back on her hometown. “I just love Wauneta. I can’t think of a better place to raise a family, a better place to grow-up,” says Michelle, adding that kids from small towns like Wauneta are often more well-rounded thanks to the opportunity to participate in such a variety of activities. She also praises the patronage of loyal customers and their support for main street businesses.

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Michelle grew up in Wauneta in a family with strong ties to the school. Her parents, Gary and Jan DeWester, moved to Wauneta in time for Michelle to begin her first grade year here.  The DeWester kids – Michelle, her sister Teresa, and brother Chad - grew up with the high school football field and track out their back door and the school gym across the street.  Gary DeWester was a dedicated long-time teacher and coach in Wauneta, with Michelle later picking up his coaching mantle. She coached volleyball for 12 years, beginning with junior high and moving on to an outstanding tenure as high school volleyball coach. She also devoted years to coaching youth basketball and softball. 

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“I 100% believe that this community had so much to do with who I am today.  I am very thankful for all the opportunities to volunteer my time to the youth and work alongside my peers on several projects over the years.  I truly believe that where much is given, much is expected,” says Michelle. “That is how I have always looked at things.”  

 

Growing up, the DeWester home was also just up the street from Brian Harchelroad, who would later become Michelle’s high school sweetheart and husband. The young couple made Wauneta their home and worked shoulder-to-shoulder to make Wauneta a thriving, forward-looking town where they could raise their three kids – Dawnta, Sydnee and Dalton. 

 

Michelle is also a dedicated member of the Hamlet Union Church where she helped with the junior high program at Awana’s and with Vacation Bible School. In addition to taking on leadership roles in her kids’ activities Michelle answered the call in serving Wauneta as a member of Women of Today community betterment organization and the Wauneta Chamber. Her design background served the community well also with Michelle rolling up her sleeves to help tackle wall papering and painting in the Chateau Theater lobby during the theater’s renovation project; chairing the decoration committee for the Cattleman’s Ball; and working with the Wauneta Medical Building committee on design elements.

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The Harchelroads’ generous gifts to the Wauneta Community Foundation Fund helped lead the way to raising the money needed to build the Wauneta Medical Clinic. Brian was a founding WCF board member and Michelle has recently joined the WCF board. Brian and Michelle also generously provided upgraded workout equipment to the school which is also utilized by adults in the community. Both Brian and Michelle were standout athletes during their high school careers in Wauneta, as were their children, and staying physically fit is important to their family.

 

“Brian and I have been able to give back to this community over the years, as many others have as well.  That is what is so cool about our small community: you see how people pull together their time, talents, and generous donations,” said Michelle. “The donation of the workout equipment at the school was really important to Brian and me. It has been fun to see all the kids and adults that have used this equipment over the years.” 

 

Michelle will be saluted for her years of dedication to Wauneta during the Harvest Fest Parade where she will be joined by her grown children and their families: Dawnta and Jeff Morrison of Lincoln and their children Tatum, Tenley and Wells; Sydnee and Tyler Berger and daughter Bostyn of Philadelphia, Penn.; and Dalton Harchelroad and MaryAnn Erickson, of Chanhassen, Minnesota.

 

The parade theme for this year’s Harvest Fest is “Livin’ on Wauneta Time.” 

 

Reflecting on what “Wauneta Time” means to her, Michelle notes that life goes by way too fast but living in Wauneta allows her to enjoy so many special moments. “Just walking down the street I always run into someone I am able to stop and chat with and share a laugh. Living in Wauneta, where you don’t have an hour commute to work in bumper-to-bumper traffic, there just seems to be more time to enjoy the little things. And those little things are what make living here the best.”

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The Harvest Fest Committee would like to extend our thanks to Tina Kitt for penning this tribute in honor of Michelle.