Submitted by Sunfield Farmers Picnic
(Photo provided: 2023 Sunfield Farmers Picnic Grand Marshal Tim Rumfield and his wife Amy.)
Tim Rumfield has been selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal for the Sunfield Farmers Picnic, with a parade theme of “Farmers Feed the World.” Tim is a lifelong Sunfield area resident and farmer. Born to Robert (Bob) and Joan (Jones) Rumfield, Tim and his wife Amy now reside very close to the Rumfield Centennial Farm on Shaytown Road.
Tim has three sons: Jeff, Nick and Danny. After a horrific traffic accident in 2001, he lost his son Danny and Jeff was left disabled. After this accident, Tim created the Sunfield SPY’s Danny Rumfield Memorial Scholarship Fund for area graduates studying agriculture and expanding into trades.
Tim has three grandsons, Daniel, Noah and Asher Rumfield. After marrying Amy (Livingston/Patrick) he added Blade and Paige, and granddaughter Ella Patrick, to the family.
As a young boy, Tim joined Cub Scouts with Ardyth Dow being his Den Mother. He went on to Boy Scouts and Explorers with Delmer England and becoming an assistant Scout Master. He went to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 1976. He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1977, where he was active in FFA and Auto Shop.
Having worked at Lakewood Automotive and the Sunfield Farmers Elevator, then delivering lumber for Sherm Pranger, he moved on to General Motors in 1978, where he completed the apprentice program and became a Journeyman Truck Repairman for the over-the-road truck fleet, while continuing to farm and drive his semi fulltime.
Tim served on the Sunfield Township Board as trustee for 16 years, helping the township acquire the bank for its current hall and building the recycling program. He was also on the Eaton County Farm Bureau Board. Tim has been a long-standing member of the Sunfield Sponsors of Programs for Youth. The SPY’s organization raises money to pay for many items including youth sporting events and graduating senior scholarships.
Tim built a farm fueling facility and a fertilizer containment facility, becoming MAEAP certified, and earned the Eaton County Conservation District 2014 Cooperator of the Year Award. That same year Tim also received the Monsanto America’s Farmers Grow Communities Award, earning the Sunfield Historical Society some much needed funds.
After 30 years of service, Tim retired from GM in 2008 and semi-retired from farming in 2018, renting his land to the Dow family and working part-time for them.
Tim was a member of the “Thursday Night Riders” motorcycle group, raising money to annually give bicycles to area kids.
Tim and Amy have enjoyed becoming Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the Sunfield and Mulliken area, also doing virtual Christmas for far away friends.
Tim is honored to be selected as this year’s Grand Marshal and looks forward to seeing you all at this year’s event.
Please come to the Floyd Van Buren Park on Friday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m., for a reception in his honor.
