
Dale Keagy portrays Johnny Appleseed.
By TERRI REUTER
Publications/public information coordinator,
Southern York County School District
Glen Rock, Pa – Johnny Appleseed surprised first grade students at Shrewsbury Elementary School recently, when he wandered into their playground. A lost Appleseed was traveling to Ohio to plant his apple trees and needed help with his map and directions.
Each fall, Appleseed (otherwise known as Dale Keagy, retired District Business Administrator) takes a break from his travels to visit and entertain the elementary students.
“We take the kids outside on the playground and he comes walking through the grass with a pot on his head, carrying a bag,” First Grade Teacher Rebecca Cohenour said.
Appleseed entertains the students with songs and also shows them the items in his bag, which include his harmonica, a bugle, a bird caller and a bag of apples.
“He talks with the children about his life and then he chants the song, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” First Grade Teacher Erica Allen said.

Dale Keagy portrays Johnny Appleseed.
Keagy has been performing as Appleseed for about 25 years. “I started doing it when I was asked to read the Johnny Appleseed story to the first graders as a part of the folklore unit,” he said. “I thought that it would be more interesting if I did in costume. Then I added a few songs and some musical accompaniment.”
Students act out with sounds and hand motions, Allen said. Throughout the visit, Appleseed accidentally hits his head with his pat/hat, which makes the students laugh.
“I try to add a few new things each time, Keagy said. “I use a harmonica, a bird call, and a tin whistle. I still tell the story – the folk tale part and the true part.”
During the last week of September, the students study a unit on apples, Cohenour added. “Johnny Appleseed’s birthday is on Sept. 26, so we learn about him at this time.”
First-graders also celebrate with an Apple Day, Allen said. As part of the language arts curriculum, each teacher prepares a special “apple” activity and then classes rotate so that the students complete different apple activities with each first grade teacher.
“Johnny is always our ‘opening act’ on that day,” Cohenour said.
Students enjoyed the visit and presentation from Appleseed, the teachers said. They even wondered if he was the real Johnny Appleseed.
“Over the years, the students have been remarkably consistent,” Keagy said. “They know I’m not the real Johnny Appleseed, but they like pretending that they do.”
Dale Keagy portrays Johnny Appleseed.
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