Henry County Harvest Showcase
‘Parade
of Breeds’ a first
for annual agriculture event
Day
includes a variety
of activities for young and old
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
NEW CASTLE, Ky. (July 2009) – The Henry County
Saddle Club was formed four years ago with members from Henry, Oldham
and Trimble counties in Kentucky. In that short period of time, they
have grown to include 60 families among their membership, a testament
to their wide appeal.
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The club, which holds a monthly horse show, will present
a Parade of Breeds at this year’s 10th annual Harvest Showcase
and Lunch at the Farmers Market. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 25.
The saddle club’s parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. with riding demonstrations
taking place throughout the day, said Henry County Saddle Club president
Randy Ricketts. The saddle club is participating in the Harvest Showcase
for the first time this year because, “we want to be more active
within the county and gain more members,” said Ricketts.
He said the saddle club hopes to have several different breeds on hand,
including American quarter horses, Morgans, Arabians, draft horses,
paints, Saddlebreds, miniature horses, Rocky Mountains and thoroughbreds.
Ricketts, a Pleasureville resident, owns paints and quarter horses.
Henry County Extension Agent Maryellen Garrison called the Harvest Showcase
“a day of great family fun.” The event is free and open to
the public and will be held at the Henry County Fairgrounds located
on Hwy. 421 between New Castle and Pleasureville.
The Harvest Showcase’s lineup includes music, food and lots of
fun. The day kicks off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. for those setting
up booths. Breakfast is provided by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce
and will be served until 11 a.m.
Other food providers include Smithfield residents Wendell and Ernestine
Thomas of the Fall City Smokers Competition Barbecue Team, the Pleasureville
Depot and the Henry County Cattlemen.
Musical entertainment will feature the Henry County Marching Band, Music
‘N a Box, Muddy Loafers and Unfinished. Agricultural products and
information will be available from Henry County farmers, craftsmen,
local and regional chefs and agricultural business people. Local craftspeople
will have booths set up to display their artwork and a broommaking demonstration
will be given by Followin’ Family Traditions.
“This event will hold lots of appeal for children,” said Garrison.
Old-time games such as soybean sandbox, thimble in the haystack and
corn hole will be played.
A petting zoo and livestock pavilion will appeal to children and adults
alike. Connie Snowden, coordinator for the animal events, said displays,
demonstrations and contests such as barrel racing will be held. Livestock
animals will include dairy cattle, sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens,
llamas and alpacas. It will be a diverse “representation of the
livestock raised here in Henry County,” Snowden said.
If attendees would like to show their competitive side, they may want
to try their hand at a Corn Hole Tournament at 2 p.m., a Husband Calling
and Liar’s Contest at 12:45 p.m. or a Celebrity Milking Contest
at 11 a.m. The later contest will feature Kentucky Kate and all elected
officials in Henry County have been invited to participate.
It will be a timed (11/2 minute) milking contest between two local “celebrities,”
said contest organizer Susan Coleman. Kentucky Kate is a life-size fiberglass
milkable cow owned by the Kentucky Milk Producers Association.
Coleman is a dairy farmer with 60 head of cattle who lives between New
Castle and Eminence. She is also a pen-and-ink and watercolor artist
who usually displays her artwork at the Harvest Showcase.
Coleman said she and fellow Henry Countian Ginger Coomes wanted “to
do something educational about dairying.” Prizes will be awarded
to the winners of the Celebrity Milking Contest. “There will also
be a display of different feeds and the products produced,” from
cattle, and children’s giveaways, said Coleman.
“This is a very friendly local event,” Coleman said. “There
are so many people who attend that we have an excellent opportunity
to educate kids about the farm.”
Other events include an Antique Tractor Show; a Henry County Ag Diversification
group meeting at 2 p.m.; a Community Farm Alliance meeting at 2:30 p.m.;
and an Antique Tractor Pull at 4 p.m. There are more than 2,000 members
of the Community Farm Alliance in 75 Kentucky counties.
“Last year, there were more than 4,000 in attendance from Henry,
Oldham, Shelby, Trimble, Jefferson, Fayette, Owen, Franklin and Mercer
counties in Kentucky, and Indiana and Ohio,” said Garrison. The
Harvest Showcase is “a grassroots attempt to promote the agricultural
economy to local residents and also an opportunity to reach out to our
city neighbors and help them to reconnect with the land.”
• For more information, contact the Henry County Extension Office at (502) 845-2811.