MONROE, MI — Rollo Juckette is the fair parade marshal for the 2025 Monroe County Fair.
Juckette, a lifelong Dundee resident, is a career auctioneer. He’s been a Monroe County Fair board member since 1982 and served twice as board president. A fair auctioneer and announcer for 55 years, he’s on several fair committees and volunteers at the fairgrounds throughout the year.
“I am honored to be chosen,” Juckette said. “My 50th year announcing the demotion derby is Tuesday night (of fair week).”
“Rollo really is a true gem,” said Darryl Diamond, fair manager. “Rollo and his late wife, Helen, have been staples around the Monroe County Fair for years. He is one of the first to volunteer, and we can count on him no matter what. We are blessed to have him on our board.”
As parade marshal, Rollo, 75, will lead the procession for July 27’s parade to kick-off fair week, July 27 through Aug. 2. Juckette said he’ll ride in a brand-new Ford Bronco. Then, like always, he’ll spend all week announcing and auctioning at the fair.
“I have the combine derby on Sunday, the demolition derby on Tuesday, tractor pull on Thursday, the wood carving auction Saturday and the small animal auction Saturday morning,” Juckette said. “I’ve announced the tractor pull at Monroe and other fairs for 55 years.”
Once, Juckette announced at six or seven Michigan fairs, including Lenawee, Hillsdale, Saline and Kalamazoo.
“I gave them up and have just been doing Monroe the last 10 years. It got to the point where I was busy with other stuff. I’ve been an auctioneer for 55 years. I sold insurance company-owned vehicles at auction five days a week for 31 years,” Juckette said.
At the Monroe County Fair, he’s the head auctioneer for the 4-H Small Animal Sale. He also helped with the large animal sale for years.
“I like visiting and picking on the buyers to get them to raise their bids to help the 4-H kids make a few dollars more,” he said.
Today, Juckette, a Dundee High School graduate, is semi-retired from his auction business. He got into the field on the encouragement of his neighbor.
“In high school, my neighbor was an auctioneer. I helped him in the summer on his farm. He said, ‘Do you want to help me set an auction up?’ It was kind of interesting,” Juckette said.
His neighbor suggested he first study business in college before entering the field.
“He said the industry is changing, and that was 55 years ago,” Juckette said.
So, Juckette studied for two years at Monroe County Community College and then went to auctioneering school in Decatur, Ill.
“When I got home, (my neighbor) had passed away. I was knocking on doors to get work. It worked out,” Juckette said.
His most unusual item to auction?
“I sold a stolen and recovered entertainer’s bus. That was kind of interesting,” Juckette said. “I’ve enjoyed meeting people and selling different things. Every sale is different. It’s all enjoyable.”
Juckette was Dundee Township’s supervisor for more than 24 years, until 2000. He was a Dundee Township trustee for 10 years, until 2014.
Once, he was an auto racing announcer.
“I worked with the Automobile Racing Club of America, ARCA. I announced at Toledo and Flat Rock speedways. I worked part-time for ARCA on the traveling circuit. I worked there 1966 to the mid-’80s. Then, they sold all that to NASCAR,” Juckette said.
He’s been going to the Monroe County Fair all his life.
“I wasn’t in 4-H. My brother was. I had asthma and couldn’t stand the dust and the hay. But, I outgrew asthma,” Juckette said. “My grandpa used to have a booth (at the fair) for his (feed) business. He was a life member. My parents were life members. We always went back in the day, four or five days a week.”
He’s still a regular at the fairgrounds, now all year round. He plans to keep volunteering for the fair assocation.
“I volunteer as much as I can. I help with the dog show and whatever else happens. I do the work bees on Tuesdays. I have a saying, ‘If the good Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be back,'” Juckette said.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Rollo Juckette, longtime auctioneer, volunteer, is 2025 Monroe County Fair parade marshal
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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