“It’s Always Scarecrow Season In Buchanan”

Buchanan Scarecrow Charities works Year-Round to make their Annual Scarecrows

[ 10:00 AM - Buchanan, MI - On a Tuesday ]

It’s a Tuesday in June, and the affectionately-known “Scarecrow Ladies” are already surpassing the 200 mark on their scarecrow count. The goal is to hit 240 total scarecrows, and yes, this is a year-round project that culminates in one of the most unique “events” the town of Buchanan will see!

So, let’s back up for a moment to catch everybody up on exactly who, and what, “Scarecrow Charities” is and does.

Back in 2007, it all started when Mary Fisher and Carol Headstrom decided to decorate downtown Buchanan with 40 homemade scarecrows. Soon, local visitors and businesses alike became smitten with the straw-stuffed figures and a new tradition was born in town. Each year after, businesses and organizations sponsor a scarecrow to be displayed up and down Front Street, and each year it has expanded in both size and creativity.

By 2013, “Buchanan Scarecrow Charities” became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has created a community impact that runs deeper than just festive seasonal decorating. Buchanan Scarecrow charities now has over 40 volunteers helping to create these beloved characters, and through the sponsorships, they have donated over $140,000 to local charitable organizations and scholarships! Truly impressive.

Pictured: President Clare Hagan in the scarecrow storage room (Above)

A sneak peak at some of this year's creativity (below)

Today, we find Scarecrow Charities in their “forever home”, a building at 606A Carroll Street in Buchanan that is the result of years of hard work and dedication. The new building allows for a full assembly line of scarecrow production, with volunteers placing themselves according to their strong suites. Stuffing, sewing, stitching, dressing, bedazzling, and photographing are on the short-list of stations buzzing with excitement upon our visit. Every volunteer has a role and every one of them enjoys this time immensely, some traveling from New Buffalo or South Bend to be a part of this project.

We welcome all volunteers and feel everyone can contribute to the group in some way. Fast friendships form quickly while working on a shared project." President Clare Hagan explains.

Some volunteers specialize in sewing unique costumes together, which becomes a challenge each year given that no scarecrow is the same twice. That’s right, the group starts from scratch each year! So, simply getting the process started by “stuffing” the scarecrow body, or even painting/sewing the faces is a labor of love. The chatter in the room revolves around the sharing of ideas, tricks of the trade coming from years of trial-error-success, and the occasional laughter after a joke. It’s a group effort, and the passion for the project is both visible and audible.

Once a scarecrow has been stuffed and dressed up (in themes running from pop culture icons to local history), they are posed for a photo shoot. The process is enjoyable to watch unfold, and the personalities of the scarecrows come to life as they get camera ready. This year, expect to see some appearances from sports heroes, rock bands, and of course local celebrities among the mix of scarecrow characters. We won’t give away too many surprises, but there are some sneak-peek photos included here!

"We attract creative people who enjoy sharing ideas and construction “secrets”. Help and praise flow freely through the group." Hagan continues.

As for the future, Buchanan Scarecrow Charities hopes to see their charitable efforts grow through community excitement and involvement. Many of Buchanan’s local nonprofits have benefitted from the donations spread around over the years, and the totals keep growing.

Additionally, they wouldn’t mind seeing the scarecrows build into a festival or even a town holiday.

As for the post-scarecrow rollout, the work (and fun) doesn't stop there:

"Once the scarecrows are on display, we concentrate on fund raising. Starting with a fall sale of scarecrows, gnomes, and crafts Sept.9. This is followed by our Build-a-Scarecrow Workshops, Sept 16 ,21, and 23. The workshops allow everyone a chance to create their very own scarecrow. And then… we will have our first silent auction and Trivia Night Oct 7.

Stay tuned for an upcoming PERC Breakfast in August at Scarecrow Charities, along with some ensuing fundraisers the charity will be offering - including a silent auction and a trivia night in October!" Hagan concluded.

Given the unique nature of this project, we think everybody could use a little more

“scarecrow” in their lives!