GREEN BAY, Wis. — We’re just a few days away from the beginning of the Green Bay Packers regular season.

One time-honored tradition highlights the start of the season — the painting of the fence across from Lambeau Field. Fans added a fresh coat of paint and a new motto to that fence over the long weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • Fred Harrsch continued the fence-painting tradition until his death last year 

  • Bruce Kiel has sketched the letters and art for the fence for the last 15 years

  • Harrsch was such a Packers superfan that he named his dog Packer

For several hours under Monday’s hot sun, Bruce Kiel, a retired public safety officer, became an artist. He carefully sketched out letters for this season’s motto on the fan fence at the home on 1177 Shadow Lane. Kiel said he was proud to be part of the long-standing tradition.

“It started about 30 years ago, but we got together with Fred [Harrsch] and started to do the community paint. Oh, my gosh, probably about 15 years ago,” Kiel said.

Kiel said he started sketching the fence because of Harrsch, who was a Packers superfan. Harrsch also owned the home on Shadow Lane, where the fence tradition began. He purchased it about 20 years ago and had continued the tradition ever since. Harrsch died last year.

But Kiel said that Harrsch still isn’t far from his mind.

“We know that Fred’s here with us and he just loved the Packers. He named his dog Packer, of course. I just loved him,” Kiel said.

Packers President Mark Murphy stopped by the painting to thank fans for continuing the tradition. Murphy even added a few finishing touches of paint in honor of Harrsch.

“It’s just sad, but it’s also heartwarming. Fred meant so much to some people. This is a nice tradition. It’s his legacy,” Murphy said.

It’s only fitting the slogan for this season reads “The New Pack Is A Love Affair.” Kiel said it honored the new quarterback Jordan Love and Packers players.

“I’m using the name Love, of course, love affair. We wanted to get something in about all these young new packers in the brand new team such as naturally came together, ‘The New Pack Is A Love Affair,’” Kiel said.

Kiel said the motto also honored Harrsch.

“Even before, love was on the fence and it’s always been that way. Fred was a special guy,” Kiel said.

The labor of love (in so many ways) is now on display across from Lambeau Field.

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