The traditional opening of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival this week will be highlighted by the Chief For A Day program when local law enforcement honors local children as ceremonial chiefs of duty.
This heartwarming program honors seven young people selected each year who are facing a chronic illness or disability. The program provides an uplifting day to recognize in front of their classmates their perseverance in the face of the challenges they face.
The Chief For A Day program opens the 105th Apple Blossom Festival on Thursday, April 25 at Memorial Park in Wenatchee.
The celebration begins with a law enforcement escorted procession from Wal-Mart, arriving at Memorial Park at 11:50 a.m. The “Chefs for a Day” will be welcomed on stage at Memorial Park and the managers of the seven participating agencies will introduce each young person and share some details about each day of the “Little Chefs” in charge of their department. The program ends with a flyover from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Department helicopter.
Here are this year’s winners for the 2024 Chef for a Day celebration:
Wenatchee Police Department
- Chef for a Day Sabrina Sanchez-Escalera, Lincoln Elementary with Chef Steve Crown
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office
- Sheriff for a Day Christiaan Cisnerson, Lewis & Clark Elementary with Sheriff Mike Morrison
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Chef for a Day Victoria Cuevas, Lincoln Elementary with Captain Mike Jewell
East Wenatchee Police Department
- Chef for a Day Isaiah Lynn, Cascade Elementary with Chef Rick Johnson
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
- Sheriff for a Day Rigdon Whitehall, Cascade Elementary with Sheriff Kevin Morris
Washington State Patrol
- Chief for a Day Xander Chadderton of Columbia Elementary School with Captain Daniel Richmond
Wenatchee Valley Fire Department
- Chef for a Day Itzel Gamino Rubio, Cascade Elementary with Chef Brian Brett
Youth and families will have a reception at a private event following the public ceremony at the YMCA before their official motorcade returns them to the Wal-Mart parking lot.
The Chief For A Day program is locally sponsored by Cascade Chevrolet, Apple Blossom Festival, Central Washington Lions Club, Wal-Mart, Safeway, CW Nielsen Mfg. Costco, Haglund Trophies, LINK Transit, NCW Quilt Guild, WA State Troopers Assoc., Plumb Perfect, Pepsi, Wenatchee Valley YMCA, Nancy’s Party Rentals, Diane Ritter-Sew Rite Alterations, Slide Waters
Why do giraffes have long necks? Answers to 25 questions about animal evolution:
Gallery credit: Stacker