On a beautiful October afternoon, roughly 750 people turned out to enjoy a day of celebration of agriculture, regional foods, and local arts and crafts on McClellan’s historic parade grounds. By all accounts the inaugural Fall Fest was a success. The event, coordinated by the Calhoun County Extension Office and the Buckner Arts Center, featured a fall Farmers Market, plant sale, hay rides, and live music. There was much to see and do for folks of all ages and interests.

Youngsters of all ages competed in games and competitions including horseshoes and a few lucky winners in the Cake Walk went home with sweet treats. The McClellan JPA along with 26 other sponsors and a league of 50 volunteers made the event go smoothly and plans are in the works to make the Fall Fest a new McClellan tradition.

In the tradition of a country fair, contests were held in a variety of cooking and handcraft divisions. Below is a list of winners. Congratulations to all who participated.

Chicken-Que, Junior Division
First Place Chance Coger
Second Place Zack Galbreath

Chicken-Que, Senior Division
Jennifer Brooks

Baking/Desserts – Cake Walk (Cookies/Miscellaneous)
First Place Myra Mason – boiled cookies
Second Place Myra Mason – brownies
Third Place - Millie English – carrot/apple/raisin muffins

Baking/Desserts – Cake Walk (Cakes)
First Place Jan Hanbury – fudge bottom cheesecake
Second Place Kathy West – chocolate sheet cake
Third Place Kathy West – orange sheet cake

Baking/Desserts – Cake Walk (Candy)
First Place Myra Mason – fudge
Second Place Sharon Golden – milk chocolate fudge with walnuts
Third Place Sharon Golden – polka-dot fudge

Canning (Overall Winners)
First Place Doris Shears – soup mix
Second Place Tammy Parris – hot chow-chow
Third Place Sherry Parker – apple-cinnamon jelly

Canning (Soup Mix)
First Place Doris Shears
Second Place Tammy Parris

Canning (Tomatoes)
First Place Doris Shears
Second Place Sherry Parker

Canning (Other Vegetables)
First Place Doris Shears – green beans

Canning (Other Fruit)
First Place Betty West – apples

Canning (Whole Pickles)
First Place Doris Shears

Canning (Sliced Pickles)
First Place Arlis Parris – squash pickles

Canning (Sauces, Catsups, Relishes)
First Place Tammy Parris – hot chow-chow
Second Place Roxanna Sims – sweet heirloom relish

Canning (Sugar-Sweetened Jelly)
First Place Sherry Parker – apple cinnamon jelly
Second Place Betty West – muscadine jelly

Canning (Sugar-Sweetened Jam)
First Place Betty West – fig jam
Second Place Sherry Parker – blackberry jam

Canning (Sugar-Sweetened Fruit Butter)
First Place Betty West – apple butter
Second Place Doris Shears – apple butter

Handi-Crafts (Overall Winners)
Susie Franklin – fiber arts
Second Place Leon Lemison – wood working
Third Place D.J. Fox – sewing

Handi-Crafts (Painting)
First Place Amy Brown
Second Place Debra Gilmore
Third Place Jannette Lackey

Handi-Crafts (Fiber Arts)
First Place Susie Franklin
Second Place Debra Gilmore
Third Place Jannette Lackey

Handi-Crafts (Sewing)
First Place D.J. Fox

Handi-Crafts (Glassware)
First Place Susie Franklin

Handi-Crafts (Miscellaneous)
First Place Leon Lemison
Second Place Bill Golden
Third Place D.J. Fox

Photos courtesy of Calhoun County Extension Office