BUCHANAN — On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the Buchanan Scarecrow Charities finished hanging up the scarecrows around town to get the fall season started. One of the co-founders, Mary Fisher, helped start the nonprofit group in 2013.

The Buchanan Scarecrow Charities are now in their 12th year and have made 229 scarecrows for downtown.

All the money that comes in from selling the scarecrows to the businesses stays within the community, Fisher said. They give to the Buchanan Art Center, the library, Tin Shop Theatre and RAM, among other efforts. There are two scholarships that go to the Buchanan High School graduates and the organization also gives to the robotics team.

“As of last year, we have given $75,000 back. That doesn’t include what we have done this year,” Fisher said.

There are about 30 volunteers and every year they get a few more. However, Fisher said organizers want more younger volunteers.

Each year there are workshops where the volunteers will help the public make their own scarecrow.

“They pick out the hat, the clothes, all of that,” Fisher said.

There will be the first annual Scarecrow Festival on Oct. 12 in and around Lehman’s Brewery. Lehman’s will be the sponsor of the event but the Buchanan Scarecrow Charities will help them. They will host workshops, have mini painted pumpkins, small scarecrows for sale, all their crafts and more.

Above, Nancy Skoeec, left, and Clare Hagan, right, from Buchanan, help hang scarecrows throughout town on Tuesday. (Leader photos/EMILY SOEBCKI)