07/07/2026
Matt and Vickie Gehm Named 2026 Mendota Sweet Corn Parade Grand Marshals
Believe it or not, the annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival is only a month away, August 6-9.
What Matt and Vickie Gehm, who both retired from teaching after the 2025-26 school year, didn't believe was when they were asked to be the 2026 Mendota Sweet Corn Parade Grand Marshals.
“It's strange to know how many people we've taught, coached or worked with. We see former students doing great work,” Matt said. “When we walk into a business and it's owned or managed by a former student, it's very nice to see all the people we've taught being successful. It's rewarding.
“Since we've been named grand marshals, we see people out and about and think that they may have been better grand marshals. It's very humbling, surprising, touching overwhelming, and a great honor. There are so many great people in town who are deserving.
“It's a very nice honor. We're proud to be this year's grand marshals.”
The honor comes after many, many, many, many hours on school property as Matt taught and coached at Mendota High School for 34 years and Vickie was at Northbrook School for 24 years after six at Streator Woodland High School.
During their career, they had their own children. John, who will be 32 in July, teaches social studies and is the girls varsity basketball coach at Rochelle High School. Payton will be 30 in August and teaches music to pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students while leading the band and choir at Harrison School in Wonder Lake.
Vickie started teaching in 1988, while Matt first lectured in 1992, but she stayed at home for a few years until the boys were going to school themselves.
“I always wanted to be a teacher. When our kids were both in school, I went back to teaching,” Vickie said. “I loved staying home with our kids, but I enjoy teaching. Things have changed a lot over the years, so it was never boring. You have to learn something new with technology.
“When I started, there wasn't internet. There were a few computers and floppy disks. We didn't rely on technology the way we do today. It's never boring because you're always learning something new. The kids change a little bit and sometimes they know the technology better than you.”
The Gehms are now grandparents as John and Payton each have a child apiece.
Although retiring from a long-tenured career isn't easy, they know there are other children who need their attention. ...Or grand kids they want to give their attention to.
“It was very hard for us to walk away from our schools, but we have two small grandchildren,” Vickie said. “We get to spend time with them whenever we want now, instead of just on the weekends when we could fit it in because they don't live in Mendota. Knowing we would be able to see them more helped hold back some tears.
“There were tears when we retired, but not as many because of our family.”
The Gehms have been to numerous Mendota Sweet Corn Festivals, but besides being a parent when their sons were part of the festivities, they've had limited involvement.
Until this year, when they're front and center of the parade.
“We've been blessed with the people we've been able to work with, the friends we've made in town and the students we've taught over the years. We're very fortunate,” Matt said. “Teaching was the job we chose. It's like every job, you hope you do it right and you do it well. You just don't want to mess things up. When I see our former students out and about, and doing well, maybe we did OK.
“Being named grand marshal is a special honor we are proud to do.”
