patrickg
Veteran Member
Country Doin\'s
Hello Rural America, How are you? I have been attending such things as:
Rural Water District Three headquartered in Wanette, Oklahoma had a ground breaking ceremony for its office building construction right there on the MAIN DRAG (been using a room in the city offices, an old storefront. Ceremonies incuded speaches by various officials at county, state, and federal level. As there is strong support and participation from the Citizen Pottawatomie tribe and its elected Chairman (they elect a Chairman not a chief), the Chairman made a speach and performed a traditional Pottawatomie blessing ceremony with owl wing amulet, earth, fire, water and chant. He explained in advance the meaning of what was about to happen so you could appreciate it more. Nice! Later I had a nice 45 min chat with him. Quite a guy, into artificial insemination/breeding of registered Black Angus AND really into lifecycle costing of buildings and their mechanical systems. Under his leadership, when the tribe builds a building it is with deliberate planning which includes such things as ground sourced heat pumps etc.
The Wanette Flag Day Celebration in Wanette, Oklahoma. Wanette, a town of about 400, has more civic pride per capita than just about anyplace in the land, at least during the Flag Day celebration which has a parade with floats, local volunteer firetrucks with lights and sirens and candy tossed to kids along the parade route. There is a BBQ feed in the middle of town (closed to regular vehicular traffic for the event). Once free, later a dollar a plate, now is $2 a plate for hickory smoked BBQ, beans, slaw, bread, and tea. Folks sit on the ground, curb, lawn chairs to eat and listen to the live band. Pretty good professional rodeo in the evening with Muton busting for the kiddies (bareback sheep riding). A previous year, one of the largest American flags in the world was carried in the parade by volunteer children.
The Wanette bank had customer appreciation night with free fried chicken and side dishes PLUS lots of cake for all its customers. It also took over the main street of town and had a giant street party with live band. Bank employees, including the president down from headquarters (main bank and one branch-Wanette) served the food and went all over the area carrying cake and things to give away seconds, thirds, etc.
The Stratford Peach Festival (Stratford, Oklahoma the Peach Capitol of Oklahoma if not the world.) Parade included floats and entrants that included 4-H, Jr. High cheerleaders, various candidates for political office, fire trucks from local communities (tossing candy to children, Marti Gras style) Vintage tractors etc. Parade route was a couple miles and had the cooperation of the local police, highway patrol, and sheriffs deputies. There was an antique and collectible car show and flea market. Three nights of rodeo (I went once). Unfortunately, due to a late freeze this spring, the peach crop was poor and prices high. Still, there were some DELICIOUS peaches available. There was a Peach Queen, Peach Princess, and Peach Blosson (really young lady).
The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival in Rush Springs, Oklahoma the watermelon capitol of well... probably the universe and all parallel universes. Once, in past years, free samples were served but the turnout at this small rural community is SO BIG they currently charge 50 cents for 1/4 of a melon (sliced longways, plastic fork at no charge). The melons being served looked to be about 25 pounds so you got about 6 lbs rhine included. There are covered eating areas where you stand at long narrow tables high enough for most adults to be comfortable. The tables are perforated to aid in handling excess juice. Paper towles and water were available. There were news choppers circling, news ladies with cameramen interviewing folks. There was a hugh flea market with arts and crafts, food, and on and on. There was a carnival with rides. Carnival section was as large as most fairs have, not one of those itsy bitsy mall doin's. There was a real nice antique and collectible car display, even had a hummer and a 1929 Mercedes Benz convertible (replicar) AND a whole bunch of antique and collectible tractors. Great fun watching some of the boys really tear up the turf (literally) having tractor pulls with their old tractors. One J. Deere was dragging another smaller tractor (MF I think) pretty badly so a Poppin' Johnny (single cylinder John Deere) hitched up in front of the previously out classed tractor and they double teamed the prevous winner. Dirt flew, I mean, they were pawing sod for certain, but were diggin' holes and no one could move the other.
We went through the tent where the "judged" melons were on display with trophies and ribbons. There were classs for the various varieties which were judged for adherence to "breed" standards. Color, shape, conformation, etc. Judged melons were not sampled by the judges, it was a beauty contest. There was an overall winner category with runners up etc as well. There was a "good lookin' young lady" chosen to be watermelon queen (no melon jokes please).
Then what we all wanted to see........ The BIGEST HEAVIEST MELLON at the festival. It ran about 130 lbs. There was a small billboard listing the winners names and the weights of their melons for the last umpteen years. One guy won this category for six years straight but not for the last couple years. His best, and heaviest melon on the list from any grower in the period covered by this sign, weighed in at 176 pounds (maybe 167?? I may have been suffering from heat induced lexdysia).
And last but not least, there was a watermelon seed spitin' contest with spitoff in case of a tie. Many of the folks living within a couple blocks of the egress route for cars leaving the Watermelon Festival were having yard sales to take advantage of the huge crowds.
Later we went to a FINE ITALIAN place for supper at Marlow Oklahoma, home of the Marlow Outlaws. Seated immediately, we had a great meal and when coming out the waiting room was filled to overflowing, a line went half way down the block, and a group of doctors, lawyers, dentists, and yuppy professionals (20 Harley D's) rode through main st parked and got in line.
Now then... It is y'alls turn. Step right up, clear your throat and tell us what's a hapnin in your neck of the woods.
Have a great rural day,
Patrick
Hello Rural America, How are you? I have been attending such things as:
Rural Water District Three headquartered in Wanette, Oklahoma had a ground breaking ceremony for its office building construction right there on the MAIN DRAG (been using a room in the city offices, an old storefront. Ceremonies incuded speaches by various officials at county, state, and federal level. As there is strong support and participation from the Citizen Pottawatomie tribe and its elected Chairman (they elect a Chairman not a chief), the Chairman made a speach and performed a traditional Pottawatomie blessing ceremony with owl wing amulet, earth, fire, water and chant. He explained in advance the meaning of what was about to happen so you could appreciate it more. Nice! Later I had a nice 45 min chat with him. Quite a guy, into artificial insemination/breeding of registered Black Angus AND really into lifecycle costing of buildings and their mechanical systems. Under his leadership, when the tribe builds a building it is with deliberate planning which includes such things as ground sourced heat pumps etc.
The Wanette Flag Day Celebration in Wanette, Oklahoma. Wanette, a town of about 400, has more civic pride per capita than just about anyplace in the land, at least during the Flag Day celebration which has a parade with floats, local volunteer firetrucks with lights and sirens and candy tossed to kids along the parade route. There is a BBQ feed in the middle of town (closed to regular vehicular traffic for the event). Once free, later a dollar a plate, now is $2 a plate for hickory smoked BBQ, beans, slaw, bread, and tea. Folks sit on the ground, curb, lawn chairs to eat and listen to the live band. Pretty good professional rodeo in the evening with Muton busting for the kiddies (bareback sheep riding). A previous year, one of the largest American flags in the world was carried in the parade by volunteer children.
The Wanette bank had customer appreciation night with free fried chicken and side dishes PLUS lots of cake for all its customers. It also took over the main street of town and had a giant street party with live band. Bank employees, including the president down from headquarters (main bank and one branch-Wanette) served the food and went all over the area carrying cake and things to give away seconds, thirds, etc.
The Stratford Peach Festival (Stratford, Oklahoma the Peach Capitol of Oklahoma if not the world.) Parade included floats and entrants that included 4-H, Jr. High cheerleaders, various candidates for political office, fire trucks from local communities (tossing candy to children, Marti Gras style) Vintage tractors etc. Parade route was a couple miles and had the cooperation of the local police, highway patrol, and sheriffs deputies. There was an antique and collectible car show and flea market. Three nights of rodeo (I went once). Unfortunately, due to a late freeze this spring, the peach crop was poor and prices high. Still, there were some DELICIOUS peaches available. There was a Peach Queen, Peach Princess, and Peach Blosson (really young lady).
The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival in Rush Springs, Oklahoma the watermelon capitol of well... probably the universe and all parallel universes. Once, in past years, free samples were served but the turnout at this small rural community is SO BIG they currently charge 50 cents for 1/4 of a melon (sliced longways, plastic fork at no charge). The melons being served looked to be about 25 pounds so you got about 6 lbs rhine included. There are covered eating areas where you stand at long narrow tables high enough for most adults to be comfortable. The tables are perforated to aid in handling excess juice. Paper towles and water were available. There were news choppers circling, news ladies with cameramen interviewing folks. There was a hugh flea market with arts and crafts, food, and on and on. There was a carnival with rides. Carnival section was as large as most fairs have, not one of those itsy bitsy mall doin's. There was a real nice antique and collectible car display, even had a hummer and a 1929 Mercedes Benz convertible (replicar) AND a whole bunch of antique and collectible tractors. Great fun watching some of the boys really tear up the turf (literally) having tractor pulls with their old tractors. One J. Deere was dragging another smaller tractor (MF I think) pretty badly so a Poppin' Johnny (single cylinder John Deere) hitched up in front of the previously out classed tractor and they double teamed the prevous winner. Dirt flew, I mean, they were pawing sod for certain, but were diggin' holes and no one could move the other.
We went through the tent where the "judged" melons were on display with trophies and ribbons. There were classs for the various varieties which were judged for adherence to "breed" standards. Color, shape, conformation, etc. Judged melons were not sampled by the judges, it was a beauty contest. There was an overall winner category with runners up etc as well. There was a "good lookin' young lady" chosen to be watermelon queen (no melon jokes please).
Then what we all wanted to see........ The BIGEST HEAVIEST MELLON at the festival. It ran about 130 lbs. There was a small billboard listing the winners names and the weights of their melons for the last umpteen years. One guy won this category for six years straight but not for the last couple years. His best, and heaviest melon on the list from any grower in the period covered by this sign, weighed in at 176 pounds (maybe 167?? I may have been suffering from heat induced lexdysia).
And last but not least, there was a watermelon seed spitin' contest with spitoff in case of a tie. Many of the folks living within a couple blocks of the egress route for cars leaving the Watermelon Festival were having yard sales to take advantage of the huge crowds.
Later we went to a FINE ITALIAN place for supper at Marlow Oklahoma, home of the Marlow Outlaws. Seated immediately, we had a great meal and when coming out the waiting room was filled to overflowing, a line went half way down the block, and a group of doctors, lawyers, dentists, and yuppy professionals (20 Harley D's) rode through main st parked and got in line.
Now then... It is y'alls turn. Step right up, clear your throat and tell us what's a hapnin in your neck of the woods.
Have a great rural day,
Patrick
