Grand Marshal

Mary Esenbock, or “Miss Mary,” as she is fondly called in Potter Valley, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the second of five siblings. She grew up an independent kid, always on the move looking for new adventures in her Baby Boomer community of St. Louis Park. After graduating high school, she attended Minneapolis College of Business and took art history classes at Walker Art Center, which, after completion, inspired her to further her personal artwork, focusing on watercolor and acrylic mediums.

In 1980 Mary and her husband Bill moved her family to Potter Valley from Willits. There they purchased their home, a bright yellow house on Main Street and raised their son Will and two daughters Jessica and Erica. They cultivated a large garden and raised the inevitable livestock menagerie of horses, chickens, goats, cats and dogs.

Bill was well-known as Morning Drive D.J. on the KWINE radio station in Ukiah and also served as program director for 40 years. Mary worked as a retail buyer and store manager in an upscale women’s boutique in Ukiah until she decided to switch professions and accepted a substitute job at Potter Valley Elementary High School. Eventually, Mary was hired as the office manager at the elementary school until her first retirement! She took a small break but quickly returned to the school as a reading tutor working with students from kindergarten through 3rd grade. She has also taken on the challenge of re-organizing and creating a functional library for the teachers and elementary students to enjoy. Both jobs have been very gratifying and fulfilling, especially when she hears the kids say that they love coming to the library to choose a special book to read!

Some of Mary’s fondest memories of Potter Valley in the 44 years she has lived here are her involvement in 4-H with her girls and the meetings at the old Grange Hall. the Redwood Empire Fair and the live auctions, past rodeos at the Brown Ranch, camping and swimming at Lake Pillsbury, serving as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout mom, the Bearcat Home Football games and Will’s little league baseball games with coach Marge Todd!

Community service is a priority to Mary serving as a board member of the Potter Valley Youth and Community Center (PVYCC) and staff member of the Kudos for Kids after school program. She is most proud to support the Annual Cancer Run Walk celebrating community members in recovery and those who our community has sadly lost. She would like to thank the rodeo community for choosing her as the 2024 Grand Marshal this year. It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent our beautiful community!

The Potter Valley Community would like to thank you, Mary, for your dedication to our children and our local organizations throughout the years! Potter Valley is a better place because of you!