1995 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen
Erica Odom
1995 Dairy Festival Queen Proud
of Her Family's Local Dairy Heritage
by: Bobby McDonald
Erica Odom, 1995 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, could boast that her parents and both sets of her grandparents had been involved in Hopkins County's Dairy Industry. "I was proud to represent a dairy farming family in the Dairy Festival, knowing the many, many hours of hard work that was devoted to bringing milk to the consumer," stated Erica. "The industry has continued to be a major economic force in Hopkins County, until this day!"
When Hopkins County paused in the spring of 1995 to celebrate the Hopkins County Dairy Festival, it was a time of unrest, in the area, as local dairy farmers were battling a time of poor milk prices and higher input costs of production, and what was described as "unusually hot weather" was affecting early year milk production. Likewise, a number of tragic events were in the headlines, as a man suspected of a local rape was being held in the local jail without bond, a forty-seven year old man had been shot and killed in a domestic argument, and an eighteen year-old woman's body had been found mutilated, in an apartment on Duckworth Street, as local law enforcement officers, as well as the FBI, were looking for her boyfriend, a local man. The man would later be apprehended and charged with the brutal slaying.
On the national scene, it was law enforcement officers at work on trying to determine who was responsible for the Oklahoma City Bombing, that killed 168 people, including 19 children, when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was blown-up on April 19th, 1995. Eventually, they would determine that two of those involved were Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, with both being tried and McVeigh being put to death by lethal injection.
Tejano superstar, "Selena," had been killed by the president of her fan club, in March 1995, and Mississippi had been the last state in the U.S. to finally ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that abolished slavery, some 130 years after the amendment was introduced.
On a much brighter note, it was the classic comedy movie Forest Gump, starring Tom Hanks and Sally Fields, that would win "Best Picture," at the 67th Academy Awards. The top movie of 1995 was "Toy Story," as it took-in over $191 million at the box office. Other popular movies included: "Batman Forever," "Pocahontas," "Ace Ventura...
When Nature Calls," "Jumanji," and "Casper." Others at the top included: "Seven," "Die Hard With a Vengeance," "Golden Eye," and "Crimson Tide."
1995 Dairy Festival Queen Erica Odom treasures this moment, when
she was named queen. She states that it is her parent's favorite
photo of her entire year as queen.
Quicky Foods was advertising Blue Bell Ice Cream 2 half-gallons for $5.00, and milk was $1.99 a gallon. T-bone steaks were $3.89 a pound and 10 pounds of potatoes were only 99 cents. A 1995 Ford F-350 XLT Truck was priced at $25,291.00, at Price Ford Sales and an F-250 XL was $16,645.00.
The "Mir" Space Station broke a record for time in space in January 1995 and Dr. Bernard A. Harris became the first African American to walk in space. The San Francisco 49'ers won Super Bowl XXIX, by defeating the San Diego Chargers. Mexico was in financial trouble and President Bill Clinton approved a U.S. loan to them for $20 billion dollars.
The North Hopkins Panthers and the Yantis Owls were both in district baseball play-offs, in the spring of 1995, and Wes Armstrong, a senior at SSHS, had signed to play ball for Panola Junior College.
Jennifer Irvin and Chrissy Passons were valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively at SSHS, and Anna Williams and Luut Kempenaar were the top grads at Como-Pickton. Jeremy Massey and Olivia Reynolds were tops at Sulphur Bluff and Jacob Panter and Donald Evans were the top of the class at Yantis High School. Jeff Wren and Sabrina Maloy were top grads at Miller Grove, while Amanda McKeever and Bobbie Jo Hampton were the top of the class at Saltillo. Atricia Young was valedictorian at North Hopkins with Gracie Rojo filling the number two spot in the class. Stephanie Rutledge and Roy Reed were the top graduates at Cumby High School, in 1995.
Longtime Sulphur Springs businessman, Jim Masters, had passed away at the age of 84, in May of 1995, while the Sulphur Springs Community Players were hosting the production of Tender Lies, featuring David Woody, Mike Dodd, and Susan Payne in the cast.
Erica Odom, Chesney Deel, and Lisa Bell rode this float in the 1995 Dairy Festival Parade,
depicting "Spring," and won the Sweepstakes Award.
Tyrone Sims and Rodrick Mosley were named Forest Gregg recipients at the SSHS All-Sports Banquet, while Jamie Johnson and Jo Ann Finnie were also tapped for the award in the girl's sector. The "James Cameron" Fighting Heart Award was presented to Jessica Young, Toby Armstrong, and T.C. Abron. And, an announcement was made that the "Wildcat Hall of Honor" would be named for deceased coach, James Cameron.
Actor Christopher Reeves' fans were saddened to hear that he had been injured in a horseback riding competition, when he was thrown from his horse, and would be paralyzed from the neck down, in May 1995, and the O.J. Simpson trial was being "played-out" on the television screen, on a daily basis.
In Country and Western Music, it was Alan Jackson's "Gone Country," that was among the top hits, along with Brooks & Dunn's "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone" and "Little Miss Honky Tonk." Tim McGraw had the hits "I Like It, I Love It" and "Not A Moment Too Soon," while George Strait brought us "You Can't Make A Heart Love Somebody" and "Check Yes or No." Pam Tillis made popular "Mi Vida Loco (My Crazy Life)" and Garth Brooks sang "She's Every Woman." It was John Michael Montgomery that sang "I Can Love You Like That" and "Sold - The Grundy County Auction." Jason McCoy made popular "This Used To Be Our Town" and it was a beautiful and talented singer, Shania Twain, that brought us a series of hits with "The Woman in Me, Needs The Man in You," "Any Man of Mine," and "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" "Dust on the Bottle" was David Lee Murphy's 1995 hit and Bryan Adams made popular "Some One Else's Star."
On the Pop Chart it was "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio and "Waterfalls" and "Creep" by TLC, at the top of the music world. "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal; "On Bended Knee," by Boyz II Men; Mariah Carey's "Fantasy"; and Madonna's "Take A Bow" were at the top, also. Other popular songs included: "Don't Take It Personal, by Monica; "I Can Love You Like That," by All 4 One; "Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams; "Someone to Love," by Jon B; and "Total Eclipse of the Heart," by Nicki French. Sheryl Crow made popular "Strong Enough" and Hootie and The Blowfish made popular "Only Wanna Be With You," and "Hold My Hand."
And, it was a large cast of young ladies that chose to enter the 1995 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen's Contest, with twelve entrants. They included: Jill Allison, sponsored by Mother's Culture Club; Lisa Bell, sponsored by Dial Study Club; Angela Shing, sponsored by the Lions Club; Chanelle Hinton, sponsored by the Rotary Club; Deanna Fite, as the NET Farmers Co-op candidate; First National Bank sponsored Chesney Deel; City National Bank sponsored Heather Wallace; Stacey Miller sponsored by Hopkins County Farm Bureau; Allison Reeves sponsored by Sulphur Springs State Bank; Junior Waverly Club Sponsored Dee Ann Evans; Fidelity Express sponsored Erica Odom; and Casi Edwards, sponsored by First American Bank.
These were the twelve young ladies that competed for the 1995 Hopkins
County Dairy Festival crown.
"Young Country" was hired as the featured artists at the Street Dance, held on the downtown square, and Bruce Fielden served as President of the Dairy Festival Board. Tim Taylor was vice-president, with Judy Jones as Secretary and Brad Anderson as Treasurer. Tony Cook served as reporter and Lynda Hager was the pageant director. Other board members included: David Allison, Brit Fisher, Bobby McDonald, Clayton McGraw, Jan Bartley, Jennifer Massey, Debra Evans, Judy Vanwinkle, Jerry Gibby, Peggy Gibby, Jim Thompson, Barbara Taylor, Pam Black, Talley Bell, Mike Blount, Patricia Chase, Melanie Helm, Eydie Ginn, and Greg Walker.
Theme for the 1995 Hopkins County Dairy Festival was "The Four Seasons in Dairyland," with groups of three contestants building a float for each season of the year. The staging followed the same theme on the night of the pageant. Because of his longtime involvement in the lending business as FMHA Supervisor for Hopkins County, Mr. Buel Berry was chosen as the Parade Marshall for 1995.
When it came time to "milk the cows" in the annual Milking Contest, it paid to have some dairy knowledge, as Dee Ann Evans won the contest with 2 and one-half pounds of milk in her bucket; Jill Allison was second place winner and Chanelle Hinton was third place. All had been reared on dairy farms for a portion of their lives.
Little children appearing in the 1995 Pageant and Parade were the "Dairyland Dudes and Dolls" and included: Jacy Lawrence and Koyt Koon; Jenna Davis and Jace Jackson; Maurie Lewis and John Holland; Britney Cheatham and Bailey Booher; Macy Kight and Blake Crowson; Chesley Walden and Jake Moreland; Ali Pogue and Livingston Martin; Katelyn Cody and Andy Ginn; Bailey Blount and Charlie Ginn; Jentri Broumley and Maselyn Walker; Melissa Logan and Scott Logan; and Regan Gilmore and Trey Henderson.
John Ginn served as the Master of Ceremonies for the pageant and Sarah Bryan was the featurd vocalist for the night, as she sang "Snowbird," "Top of the World," and "I Just Can't Wait to Be Queen." And, it was contestant number 10, who wowed the judges with her own rendition of "Where The Boys Are" by Connie Francis. Yes, it was Erica Odom, daughter of Gary and Pat Odom, granddaughter of Frank and Eudene Odom and Ray and Emma Lee Chapman, and a junior at Sulphur Springs High School, that was "waiting to be queen," and looks back on the moment as a time that her feet were "killing her and she couldn't believe that she had been chosen." Angela Shing, daughter of Steve and Joy Shing, was named First Runner-Up and Deanna Fite, daughter of Mary Fite and the late Richard Fite, that was chosen Second Runner-Up. It was Allison Reeves, daughter of Wayne and Kathy Reeves, that was selected by her peers as Miss Congeniality.
Erica Odom poses "on the throne" following being crowned
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, in 1989.
The winning float was the "Spring" float ridden and constructed by the families of Lisa Bell, Chesney Deel, and Erica Odom. It featured a giant bunny rabbit and carried out the Easter theme. Chesney Deel was named the Ticket Sales winner in the contest for 1995.
"I don't think I can give you just one favorite memory about Dairy Festival," states Erica Odom Armstrong, who continues to make her home in Sulphur Springs. "It seems like only yesterday, and there were 12 contestants in the pageant, each of us friends from Sulphur Springs High School and I remember just how much fun we all had. I built lasting friendships not only with the contestants but with the members of the Dairy Festival Board. I do remember the moment John Ginn announced me as the winner, the excruciating pain caused by my shoes just vanishing! Mike Laeding captured that exact moment and to this day, that is my parent's favorite picture of my participation in Dairy Festival! And, I still remember the look on my dad's face, when we told him the Queen's float needed to be re-done!"
Erica denotes with an emphatic "Absolutely" when asked if her participation in the Dairy Festival enchanced her life. "I dreamed about being in the Dairy Festival from the time I was just a little girl. I remember Katarina Sheffield was queen in the early 1980's and we stored her queen's float, in one of our barns on the farm. I would make frequent trips out to the barn with my dad in hopes he would let me sit on it for just a few seconds!" recalls Erica. "I had also participated in the Dairy Festival Pageant as a 'little kid' as I was escorted by Leslee Rawson, riding on the golf cart in the parade and being presented on pageant night wearing a shimmery red western outfit!"
"My sister participated in the pageant in 1988, so I witnessed the fun, excitement, and preparation, firsthand in my family," continued Erica. "When I was old enough to participate in the pageant as a contestant, there was never a question. Every second of aniticipation and preparation was just so much fun for me!"
When asked about her advice to anyone who is contemplating or considering being in Dairy Festival, Erica says that all of them should "go for it!" She advises them to participate with their "whole heart" and enjoy every moment of the experience. "Looking back, I gained much more from Dairy Festival than I realized at the time," states Erica. "It was a really positive experience in my life, that few girls will have the opportunity to enjoy!"
Other memories of her experience center around her involvement and friendships made with members of the Dairy Festival Board, during the contest and the year of her reign. Erica say that she particularly enjoyed "getting to know" Lynda Hager, Melanie Helm, Pam Black, Mary Campbell, Jennifer Massey, and Carrie Crowson.
Another memorable experience for Erica was the time spent with two other girls and their family members constructing the float. "My float was built with Lisa Bell and Chesney Deel, and we all worked together well and enjoyed the time spent with each of our families, as the float was constructed," remembers Erica. "I remember us laughing, cutting up, and building friendships that last until this day!"
Erica does remember the many trips to Dallas for voice coaching and learning to do her song for the talent portion of the contest. "However, it was all worth it!" exclaims Erica. "The weekly practices and the dedication to completing a task taught me aspects of my life, that enhanced me later in life, as well as the salesmanship that I learned while selling Dairy Festival tickets! Those experiences help you to cope with other challenges, as they are sure to come later in life!"
Erica graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1996 and married SSHS 1995 graduate, Toby Armstrong, in 1999. They are the parents of two sons, Tyler, age 9, and Jake, age 5. "I consider my family my greatest accomplishment after my reign as Dairy Festival Queen," affirms Erica. "I feel that Toby and I have followed God's plan for our life together and that He has blessed us immensely!"
Erica attended Texas A&M University-Commerce and then completed an interior design study program. She owned an operated a retail clothing and gift store in Sulphur Springs, but decided to close the business, following the birth of Tyler. Erica has recently returned to work as an office manager in her father's business. Toby is a lieutenant with the Greenville Fire Department.
"I'm proud to say that I was a part of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival," expresses Erica Armstrong. "It is one of the main focuses of this community and has a rich, rich history in Hopkins County. I look forward to all of the activities in June 2009, as we join together and celebrate a vital part of Hopkins County, our families, and the many, many individuals that make this such a wonderful place to live and rear a family! God bless those who have given so much time and effort through the years!"
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