53rd Annual Dairy Festival
Begins June 8th
From President David Black
“Cow-A-Bunga – Welcome to the Moo-au!” is the theme for the 53rd Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival.
A celebration that began in 1959, the festival is a tribute to the hard-working dairy farmers and their families, who contribute so much to our local economy and the quality of life we all love and enjoy in Hopkins County.
The 10 day event begins on Friday, June 8, with the “Dairy-Airs Hot Air Balloon Rally”, 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. at Shannon Oaks Church. Weather permitting, balloons will take flight over Sulphur Springs, others will “glow” at dusk – a spectacular sight to see!
The balloon rally will continue on Saturday, June 9, with a 6:15 A.M.(approx. time) flight and then again on Saturday evening 6:30 – 9:00 P.M., at Shannon Oaks Church. Attendees are encouraged to visit with the balloon pilots and receive information about their balloon.
June 10, 6:15 (approx. time) Balloon Rally culminates with a Competition Flight, it’s beautiful to see all of the balloons lift off at the same time.
Anyone interested in crewing for a balloon, please be at Hampton Inn on Saturday and Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m.
Crewing match-up for the evening flights, report to the tent at Shannon Oaks Church by 5:30 p.m.
BALLOONS FLY – WEATHER PERMITTING.
In addition to the balloons, Joe Weaver’s band – Stone Groove Band will perform on Friday night. Saturday night, John Fox and The Good Time Rounders band will entertain the crowd.
Saturday, June 9th The Festival Parade will begin at 10:00 A.M. – Bill Zahn will be this year’s Parade Marshall. Board Vice President David Watson has planned an exceptional parade this year, including the following past Dairy Festival Queens:
50 years ago- the 1962 Queen: Linda Booker-Bennett;
25 years ago, the 1987 Queen: Kathy Brannon-Granger
10 years ago, the 2002 Queen: Hilery Harris-Hill.
Parade Participant Entry Forms are available on our web-site: www.hopkinscountydairyfestival.com
Other activities during the 10 day event include; Milking Competition for Contestants, parents, and balloon pilots; the Texas Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off; Jr. Dairy Show; 5K Fun Run, Dairy Foods Contest, carnival and much more.
Saturday, June 16, the festival concludes with the Dairy Festival Scholarship Awards Pageant and Queen’s Coronation. Nine contestants will be competing this year. The pageant will be held at the Civic Center Auditorium – 7:00 P.M.
Press Release – 53rd Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival and Dairy-Airs Hot Air Balloon Rally
Festival activities and scholarship program is funded and made possible by contributions from local businesses and members of our community.
DairyMAX
This year:
“Festival Underwriters”: Southwest Dairy Farmers; Dairy MAX and The Propane Company for generously providing propane for all the hot air balloons.
“Dairy Partners”: AgriLand Farm Credit; Broadway Veterinary Hospital;
Edward D. Jones – Craig Johnson; Grocery Supply Company;
Sulphur Springs Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep and Texas Association of Dairymen.
Southwest Dairy Museum
Craig Johnson - Edward D. Jones, GSC Enterprises, and Agriland Farm Credit.
“Cream of the Crop”: HOLT Cat; Hopkins County Veterinary Clinic;Dean Food Company; M & F Western Products; Circle E Western Store,; Friends of Bob Deuell; Re/Max; Net Data Corp.; Cox Hospitality Group – Hampton Inn;Legacy Land Bank FLCA; City National Bank; Northeast Texas Farmers Co-Op; Farmers Electric Co-op ;Novartis Animal Health; Walgreen’s; Echo Publishing; Luminant; Front Porch News Texas.com; X-Treme Structures and Fabrication; One Stop Sign Shop; Pinnacle; Nor-Tex Tractor and Pizza Hut;
The Propane Company
On behalf of the dairy farmers and their families along with this year’s contestants, the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors would like to thank all of the local businesses and members of our community for their participation and generous contributions to help make this year’s Dairy Festival possible. Please don’t forget to show your support of these local business
We also want to thank our reigning Dairy Festival Queen, Lindsay McCormack. She has done an outstanding job as the official ambassador for dairy families and Hopkins County at various local and state events throughout the year. Again, we thank Queen McCormack and her family for all the hard work during her reign.
For a complete “Schedule of Activities” - visit our web site: www.hopkinscountydairyfestival.com
For additional information, contact: Board Treasurer Lynda Hager at lhager@gnty.com
Board President David Black at deblack@suddenlinkmail.com
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