The sequin-suited scarecrow glimmered in the early morning sunlight, its blond locks and feathery boa blowing in the breeze.
Standing sentry along with it was a gnarled pirate scarecrow, complete with one eye and a hook hand. Together, the two figures served their mission capturing people’s attention at the Franklin Farmers Market.
And it worked. Everyone seemed to want to know a little more about Scarecrow Madness.
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Local real estate agent Jeanie Cole is working hard to ensure that scarecrows overrun Johnson County throughout the month of October. She created Scarecrow Madness as a community-building activity, in addition to raising money for area seniors.
People will be able to donate $25, and in return, they will receive a kit that includes a burlap scarecrow face and stick for the body. From that point, the only limitation is the creativity that individuals, families and businesses put into their designs, which will be on display from Oct. 1 to 30.
All proceeds from the event will go to Johnson County Senior Services, with the hopes to help the agency construct a new home for its operations.
“(Cole) has put in countless hours of her time and her own money. That speaks volumes about her heart to help seniors in this community. They are the most underfunded, underappreciated aspect of our community, and that’s heartbreaking to us,” said Kimberly Smith, executive director of Johnson County Senior Services. “We were overjoyed that she had this idea, and that she chose us. We were so excited.”
Cole was inspired to bring the scarecrow invasion to Johnson County after a trip to New Hampshire two years ago. While driving through the quaint town of Chester and the surrounding farmland, she kept encountering scarecrows set up in people’s yards.
The imagination behind the displays captivated her.
“I saw all of these scarecrows, just driving around and looking at them all. I thought it was so cool, and that we needed to bring this back to Johnson County,” she said.
In one yard, Cole saw scarecrows dressed as a bride and groom, mimicking saying their wedding vows. Another was dressed in horseback riding gear, perched atop a horse seeming to jump over a picket fence.
Moses holding the Ten Commandments was there, as were the Ghostbusters, Cat in the Hat, E.T. and Beetlejuice. An old woman scarecrow sat in a rocking chair, holding a bloody knife next to a sign for the Bates Motel — “No Vacancy.”
The scarecrow displays are a yearly fundraiser for the Chester Historical Society, and routinely unites the entire community around a fun and festive contest.
That spirit of togetherness is what stood out to Cole.
“It would bring the communities together, and we could use it to raise money for a local services establishment,” she said.
Johnson County has many worthy nonprofits and social service agencies that help people every day. But Cole felt strongly about helping older adults. She is a member of the Johnson County Council on Aging, as well as Partners in Healthcare.
As a realtor, Cole works with seniors regularly. She knew that Johnson County Senior Services provided invaluable resources to the community, including free transportation for medical appointments, errands and other needs.
The organization is raising money to build a new headquarters. Currently housed in an aging historic home on Franklin’s south side, the agency has outgrown the space. In addition, the building has serious upkeep issues, Smith said.
“The term that’s used is ‘incredibly compromised.’ There is no room,” she said. “It’s imperative that we can get into a new building to help our effort.”
A donor gifted a parcel of land in New Whiteland to the agency, so the next step is to design and build a new facility on that land. Fundraising has been ongoing.
“There are no words to describe what this means. We have been needing to get out of this building for years. We’re a long way from having funding, but this will help us immensely,” Smith said.
To generate interest and awareness about Scarecrow Madness, Cole has been speaking to civic groups and business leaders for the past few months. She has set up a booth at the Franklin Farmers Market, as well as markets in Greenwood and Bargersville. During Greenwood’s Freedom Festival, she set up her own scarecrows and passed out brochures.
Cole explains the idea for the activity with great enthusiasm, letting people know what they get for their $25 donation. They’ll be able to choose a face design, with options ranging from smiling to surprised to winking. They’ll also be able to name their display.
Photos from the displays she saw in New Hampshire are posted around the booth, providing people with inspiration for their own scarecrow.
People who sign up will be able to pick up their scarecrow heads and sticks at one of four pick-up dates in September. Then, on Oct. 1, the scarecrows go up.
Contests will be held for the “Scarecrow of the Week” throughout October, as well as overall first, second and third places overall. Cole has set up a website, and will have an interactive map where people can see where all of the scarecrows are located and the names of the displays.
“People will be driving around Johnson County, gawking at the scarecrows,” she said.
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Scarecrow Madness
What: A community event and fundraiser for Johnson County Senior Services that encourages homeowners and businesses to create a unique display with scarecrows.
How does it work?
- Fill out an entry online or in person
- Pick up a scarecrow head and stick at designated locations in September.
- Create a display with your scarecrow in your yard or business
- Display outdoors from Oct. 1-30.
How much does it cost? Scarecrow kits are available for $25 each. The kit includes a burlap-sack head and stick body.
Where do proceeds go? All of the money generated from the activity will go to help Johnson County Senior Services construct a new building.
How to sign up: Go to www.scarecrowmadness.com for an entry form.
For more information: Contact Jeanie Cole at 317-809-7774
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