At the start of October, characters from two beloved kids’ stories appeared in downtown Franklin.

Woody, Buzz and the whole gang — in scarecrow form — congregated outside the offices of Carpenter Realtors.

Nearby, Rapunzel’s long blond locks spilled down the front of ASSIST Indiana, while her beau Flynn Rider, trusty steed Maximus and evil Mother Gothel look on from below in a “Tangled” themed decoration.

The two displays were just two of hundreds around Johnson County, as people turned their yards and spaces in front of businesses into whimsical, spooky and funny scenes during Scarecrow Madness. The annual competition encourages people to use their creativity to make scarecrow-centric displays, while raising money for local charities.

In the end, the public chose Carpenter Realty’s “Toy Story” tableau, as it claimed the grand prize winners in this year’s Scarecrow Madness. ASSIST Indiana took grand prize runner-up for their Rapunzel display, as well as winning first prize for a nonprofit group.

Organizer Jeanie Cole, broker for Next Generation Realty Team, was impressed by the level of inventiveness that all participants in this year’s Scarecrow Madness showed.

“Four years in a row, the same people have been doing it. They really got into it,” Cole said.

Other winners were broken out in categories. “Earl the CPA and Stan the Man from IRS” at Chamberlain & Taylor, LLP in Franklin, which took first place in the business division. Main Street Hospice in Franklin won second for its Mayberry themed display, while The Flower Market’s Morticia Addams scarecrow and Yiayia’s House of Pancakes scene tied for third.

Lisa Carpenter’s “Toy Story CLAW Machine” display was best in the residential category. Butch and Jenn Rhorer of Franklin won second for a “Misery” themed scene, while Greenwood resident’s Mary Ann Maze won third for her mermaid.

Scarecrow Madness has become a Johnson County tradition since it was founded in 2019. Over the past four years, the event has donated more than $13,000 in proceeds to nonprofits and charities in our area.

During that time, 65% of the proceeds have gone to Johnson County Senior Services with the remainder going to area schools, non-profits, food banks and other needy organizations through Tri Kappa’s Delta Lambda chapter in Greenwood. Throughout the summer, Tri Kappa’s Delta Lambda chapter in Greenwood again helped Cole attend local farmers markets and other events to sell scarecrow kits to the public.

As the south central Indiana area As people have become familiar with Scarecrow Madness, it has become a popular event in Johnson County and throughout the south central Indiana area. Now that it is already an established fundraising opportunity, Cole feels that the time has come to offer operation of the event to area groups and organizations.

“The time has come to offer this money-making opportunity to other area organizations as an established fundraising success,” she said.

The process has been re-organized and improved so minimal effort is needed by a group to host a Scarecrow Madness event in their town, she said. She has prepared a brochure for interested groups and is happy to come and speak with organizations about it.

“This is an opportunity to clear over $2,500 in proceeds by selling just 100 scarecrow kits and entertaining your entire community,” she said.

If groups would like a brochure, please email [email protected] People can view the years of success at: ScarecrowMadness.com or Facebook: Scarecrow Madness.

AT A GLANCE

Scarecrow Madness

Grand prize: “Toy Story,” Carpenter Realtors, Franklin

Grand prize runner-up: “Rapunzel in ‘Tangled,’” ASSIST Indiana, Franklin

Nonprofits

First prize: “Rapunzel in ‘Tangled,’” ASSIST Indiana, Franklin

Second prize: “Let Books Carrie You Away!” Johnson County Public Library, Franklin

Third prize: “Girls Bill of Rights with Queen Elizabeth and Freda Kahlo,” Girls Inc. of Johnson County

Businesses

First prize: “Earl the CPA and Stan the Man from IRS!” Chamberlain & Taylor, LLP, Franklin

Second prize: “Main Street Mayberry,” Main Street Hospice, Franklin

Third prize: “Morticia Addams Cutting Roses,” The Flower Market, Greenwood; “Keeping It Kreepy,” Yaiyai’s House of Pancakes, Greenwood

Residential

First prize: “Toy Story, The CLAW Machine” Lisa Carpenter, Franklin

Second prize: “MISERY on Stephen King Street,” Butch and Jenn Rhorer, Franklin

Third prize: “Beautiful Mermaid,” Mary Ann Maze, Greenwood

Most homes together in same theme

“Stephen King Street,” the King Street Alleycats

Honorable mentions

“No One Fights Alone,” Terri Adams, Franklin; “Scariest IT Clown,” Piece of Cake Bakery, Greenwood; “Humphrey BOO-gart — Maltese Falcon,” Johnson County Public Library, White River branch; “Not the Bees — The Wicker Man,” Johnson County Public Library, Trafalgar branch; “Grandkids Scarecrows,” Grandma Dony Dunn, Greenwood; “Where’s Waldo?” My Eye Doctor, Greenwood; “Paris Hilton at the Hilton,” Hampton Inn by Hilton, Franklin; “Hillbillies and Ghouls,” Franklin Muffler and RNR Tire