It’s parade day in Green Valley!

Parade fever prevailed in Green Valley Saturday as thousands of people lined La Canada Drive to view the 45th Annual Country Fair White Elephant Parade under warm temperatures and sunny Arizona autumn skies.

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The theme for this year’s parade was “45 Years Making a Difference,” a tribute to the Country Fair White Elephant, which was founded in 1964.

CFWE manager Karen Morales said she was excited to celebrate the anniversary with a parade.

Morales was also happy with the results earlier this week of the thrift store’s Midnight Madness sale that helped the store take in $11,327 for the special three-hour afternoon sale resulting in a profitable way to kick-off Country Fair Days.

“This is the second highest Midnight Madness sale we’ve ever had,” said CFWE volunteer Nola Scott, brainchild behind the popular event.

CFWE Board President Dr. Jay St. John said he was pleased at the pace of the parade that concluded before noon.

“That’s being well-organized and having great volunteer cooperation,” St. John said. “As a team we kept the parade moving.”

The parade kicked off with emcees Joey Lessa and Regina Ford announcing the first entry — the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Grand marshals for this year’s parade were Deborah Walden Ralls, a fourth generation farmer whose family owns and operates Green Valley Pecan Co. and Richard Ducote, community affairs manager from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, who was sitting in for John Broderick, vice president and general manager, who could not attend due to a family emergency.

The 2009 parade judges were Al Bernardi of Our Lady of Valley Catholic Church, Annie Coutcher of the Green Valley Community Church, and R. Bruce Elam of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with Pat Arndt and Pat Mohn, who represented the Green Valley/Sahuarita Association of Realtors.

Many entries focused on the parade’s theme of “45 Years Making a Difference” although some did have their own interpretation of the theme, working it loosely into their entry.

Many entries publicly thanked the Country Fair White Elephant for all that it does for the community. The CFWE has given away to date approximately $15,387,892 to social service groups, local charities, youth organizations, school districts and various other entities and many parade participants let the viewers know how the White Elephant has helped their organization.

Winners of the trophies in this year’s parade were:

Bands: Placing first was the Rio Rico High School Marching Hawks and second place went to The Pride of Nogales Marching Band under the direction of Randy Cochran.

Marching Units: The Marine Corps JROTC from Ray High School, District 3, Kearny, Ariz. took first place honors and second place went to Sahuarita High School NJROTC.

Equestrian: Escaramuza Flor de Primavera took first place and second went to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.

Youth Groups: First place went to Great Expectations Academy and second place went to Cub Scout Pack 328, sponsored by St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church.

Commercial: Santa Rita Nursing and Rehabilitation took first place and second went to Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce.

Service & Charitable: The U.S. Border Patrol was named first place and second went to Elephant Head Volunteer Fire Department.

Church & Social: First place went to the Green Valley Community Church with the Gospel Train and second went to Marine Corps League No. 1126.

Special Interest: Power from the Past and its line of antique tractors walked away with a first place and second went the Green Valley Aquabelles.

The Green Valley Board of Realtors Sweepstakes Award presented this year by Pat Arndt and Pat Mohn went to the Green Valley Community Church.

rford@gvnews.com