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John Ackerman was born and raised just outside Morton, Illinois in the home built by his great grandparents. He graduated from Morton High School where he met his now wife, Eve. John and Eve are the owners of Ackerman Family Farms, a continually growing business and farm which has been in the Ackerman Family since 1909. The Ackerman family is instrumental in decorating Festival Grounds during the week of Pumpkin Festival, as well as playing a huge role in the Pumpkin Decorating Contest. John and Eve have 4 children, two of which are still in the Morton area. John says his favorite thing about Morton is that Morton is “small enough to have the commerce that makes life convenient but still small enough to know that we are a community that looks out for each other. Morton is a town where neighbors help neighbors.” When he is not farming, he enjoys kayaking with his wife, serving at the Morton United Methodist Church and on the Tazewell County Farm Bureau Board, as well as hosting game nights and nerf wars on the farm with his children and grandchildren. We are thrilled to honor John, and Eve, Ackerman as our 2023 Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade Marshal!
The individual must be a resident of Morton (now or in the past) and been of service to the community or brought distinguished credit to Morton. The individual need not be a business person or a Chamber member. Nominations are now being accepted.
Each year, the Morton Chamber of Commerce selects an individual to honor as our Pumpkin Festival Parade Marshal. Morton citizens are encouraged to nominate individuals for this honor in the based on the following criteria:
1967 – None
1968 – None
1969 – None
1970 – Phil Hauter, Oscar Mathis, Arch Bartelmay
1971 – Robby Roecker
1972 – Morton Volunteer Fire Department
1973 – Eliza Ackerman
1974 – Jr. High School State Basketball Champs
1975 – Roy McClelland
1976 – Marilyn Richmond
1977 – George Rein
1978 – Joe Witzig
1979 – Jerry Moreland
1980 – Burdell Hall
1981 – Alfred Carius
1982 – Harold Bower
1983 – Jim Davis
1984 – Dr. L.S. Patton
1985 – Don Roth
1986 – Clarence Belsley
1987 – Virden Rinkenberger
1988 – Gerry Carius
1989 – Ben Hauter
1990 – Wilfred Wierman
1991 – Rudy Jungst
1992 – Lloyd Domnick
1993 – Doris Morton
1994 – Les Freidinger
1995 – Linda Yoder
1996 – George Annasenz
1997 – Harold & Gene Witzig
1998 – Richard “Chick” Evans
1999 – Merlin Birky
2000 – Sheila Harvey
2001 – Ken Aupperle
2002 – Dianne Simmons
2003 – Gerald Duffelmeier
2004 – Gwen Phillips
2005 – Jim Carius
2006 – Wayne Sutter
2007 – Bob Schnarr
2008 – Cliff Hasselbacher
2009 – Janice Sherman
2010 – Ray Mason
2011 – Henry Rapp
2012 – Dale Ritthaler
2013 – Norm Durflinger
2014 – Lloyd “Bud” Zobrist
2015 – MHS Lady Potters and MHS Golf Team
2016 – All Past Marshals
2017 – Phil Kuhl
2018 – MHS Baseball
2019 – Susan Pyles
2020 – Doug Shull
2021 – Wayne Menold
2022 – Gary Watson
2023 – Farmer John Ackerman
