ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Fair is often capped off with a Sunday parade sponsored by the Ellsworth Fire Department. This time around, long-time sheriff Nancy Hove will return to the community to serve as the parade’s grand marshal on Aug. 13.

After over 30 years of law enforcement service, including over 15 years as the Pierce County sheriff until retirement in 2022, Hove is thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the community once again. Hove started in law enforcement in 1989 after graduating from law enforcement school in Hibbing, Minn., in 1988.

Over the years, Hove has spent time as a sheriff, D.A.R.E. officer, school resource officer, patroller, and a jailer/dispatcher.

Hove has always had ties to Pierce County, being raised in Ellsworth until the age of four before moving to Hager City. Being a part of the community for so long, Hove has developed a relationship with both individuals and the county as a whole.

Hove was awarded the 2021 First Responder of the Year award for the 93rd Assembly District and recently received a life achievement award for work with D.A.R.E. over the years.

Hove will serve as the grand marshal for both the Ellsworth parade and the El Paso Days parade.

“I don’t have words for it other than humbled,” Hove said. “I love the people of Pierce County, they’ve been good to me.”

In a statement from the Ellsworth Fire Department Parade Committee, the committee stated they chose Hove due to her impact and service to the community.

“Each year our parade committee attempts to choose someone for the grand marshal of our parade that has made some kind of positive impact on our communities,” the committee stated. “We chose Nancy Hove this year to honor her for over thirty years of dedicated service to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.”

The parade, which is coordinated with the final day of the Pierce County Fair, is something that the committee believes can bring people together for one last celebration.

“The Ellsworth Fire Dept. has been sponsoring the parade for 26 years. The tradition of having the parade has been an event people have looked forward to as they finish off the week of fun at our county fair,” the committee stated. “Having fun events to attend and get together as a community have a positive impact on us all.”

Hove said the parade serves as a family outing rather than just a site to see. The street fills with chairs hours in advance as people even from outside of Pierce County show up to see what it’s all about.

Hove now lives in Big Stone City, S.D., but has not forgotten the western Wisconsin ties. Hove does part time work with TurnKey Corrections in River Falls.

“Thank you to Pierce County for my years of serving you, it’s been a true pleasure,” Hove said.