139 years ago in 1886, it all began.....
In the picturesque valley at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church the parishioners, most of whom were local farmers, wanted to celebrate the end of the harvest season.  They began what is known today as the Buchanan Valley Picnic.  Over the years, the gathering grew and grew and now the old fashion country picnic is always the fourth Saturday in August from noon to dusk.  The picnic continues for                                                        many as the "family gathering".  Visitors come from many locations and                                                      even out of state.  The Picnic marks the changing of summer into fall.

                                                Our dining hall serves a family style meal consisting of                                                                                    ham, chicken & gravy, homemade mashed potatoes,                                      fresh cut corn, hot veggies, a large selection of side salads, fresh sliced tomatoes,                                    and delicious desserts.  We serve between 800 - 1200 meals.  Some ladies of the                              parish each make between 20-50 homemade pies, while others bring homemade                            cakes and other desserts.  Most of the veggies are grown locally and donated by                              farmers.  There is ham salad sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs with sauerkraut. fries,                                and even birch beer on tap at the hamburger stand.  Other stands include fresh                                        peach sundaes, root beer floats, homemade chicken corn soup, and soda & water.

                                But food is not all.  There is fun for all ages with games of chance,                                                                Bingo, face painting, ball toss, fruit wheel, ring toss, and more.                                                                    Live music is performed by The Willy's and C.B. Pickers.

                                Every year our pastor prays for good weather, and safety for visitors as well as                                            volunteers.  As quoted by Msgr. Bill "Although the Picnic is a fundraiser, it is much                                    more than that: it is an opportunity to show our oneness in the Lord by working        together to create an atmosphere of welcome, joy, and peace for our many guests."

Many weeks of planning and preparing go into the Picnic.  Neighbors, community                                    members and parishioners come together working tirelessly to make the picnic a                                    success each year.  Planning begins early in the year all the way leading up to                                    picnic day.  Most of the preparation begins two weeks before with husking and                                        cutting corn, cleaning and preparing the buildings and grounds, washing dishes                               
and setting up tables and chairs.  The week of , there is cooking and cutting up                                chickens starting at 3:00 am, peeling potatoes for mashed potatoes,                                                        peeling and cutting seven bushels of peaches for sundaes, slicing                                                                tomatoes, getting all the stands set up and so much more.

On Sunday the buildings and grounds are cleaned up, items put away, benches, chairs and picnic tables carried in.  When things are cleaned up, the parishioners enjoy a picnic with food and fellowship.

             We would like to welcome you to come and experience this Old Fashion Country Picnic                                                                       that has been going on for 139 years! 
               
                                  This year's Picnic will be on                                                       Saturday, August 23rd noon-dusk.

                     For questions or directions, contact our parish office Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 - 4:00.

                                             This is where we will post the raffle ticket winners.