Hedley holds 53rd festival

By Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

Organizers of the 53rd annual Cotton Festival in Hedley have deemed this year’s event a success.  The streets were filled with residents and visitors who enjoyed all the festivities.

The Lioness Club kicked the festival off with their Chili and Stew Supper on Friday night.  Many out-of-town guests were present, and people enjoyed renewing old acquaintances.  Crow Hollow donated the meat for the supper.

The Lioness Club also hosted a Quilt Show on Saturday.  They boasted over 100 visitors to the show, which featured a variety of quilts of various designs from the 1920s to the 1990s.  Those who donated or loaned quilts included Helen Lamberson, Dorothy Whitaker, Mary Ruth White, Patsy and Kathy Spier, Dorotha Crawford, Susie Shields, and Anita Mitchell.  The winner of the quilt raffle was Mikki Morris of Quail.

A Tractor and Car Show started the events on Saturday. Kory Reimen of Granite, Oklahoma, was the winner of the Best of Show in the Tractor Show with a 1953 Super H.  Bennie Poe of Childress was the winner of the Best of Show in the Car Show with a 1955 yellow and white Bel Aire.  Philip Muller of Martha, Oklahoma, and Walter Cannon were recognized for traveling the farthest to participate in the Tractor and Car Show.

Other winners in the Tractor Show were: 1935-1944 class, Blackie Johnson – first with a John Deere LA, Leon Ward – second with an Allis Chalmer WC; 1945-1955 class, Kory Reimen – first with a Super H, Blackie Johnson – second with an Allis Chalmer G, Kent Courson – third with a Farmall Cub; 1955 and up class, Phillip Muller – first with a John Deeere 420 LP, Vernon Patton – second with a John Deere 630, and Travis Thomas – third with a John Deere 720.

Other winners in the Car Show were: 1920-1930 class, Delbert Wilson – first with a 1934 orange Ford Coupe, Grady Milton – second place with a 1930 Brown Model A Ford, LaVerne Muller – third place with a 1929 black Ford truck; 1940s class, Grady Milton – first place with a 1946 green Ford Coupe, Ken Carden – second place with a 1949 black Hudson, Walter Cannon – third place with a 1948 white Ford Pickup; 1950s and up class, Benny Poe – first with a 1955 yellow and white Bel Aire, David Moss – second place with a 1971 Cheyenne pickup, and Murrell and Dorthey – third place with a 1951 blue Hudson.

The Lions Club served about 240 plates of barbecue for lunch.  Lions Club president Jim Mitchell reported that this was more people than they have had in several years.

The Hedley Senior Citizens also served hamburgers during lunch.  Sysco Food donated the beef patties and supplies to the senior citizens.

Dustin Sanders of Claude and Gary Alan Bruce of Clarendon provided live entertainment at the Center during the day.  They Voices of God gospel group from Quanah also performed earlier in the morning.

The parade was very successful with more entries that they have had in many years. The streets were full of people to watch the parade. Winners of the parade include: Organizations Class – Adamson Lane Post 287 of Hedley – first, Khiva Motorcycles – second, and Khiva Mini Corvettes – third; Business Class – Don Stone Signs – first, Donley County Chamber of Commerce – second, Donley County Tourism – third; Floats Class – Red Hatters Club – first, Hedley High School Class of 1954 – second, Hedley High School and Junior High football teams – third. 

The annual Hedley School reunion proceeded the parade at the school.

Carol Ward of Hedley was the winner of the Bale of Cotton given away by the Lions Club.  Patrice Wood was named the winner of the half of beef given away by the Hedley Senior Citizens.  Hedley Feedlot donated the beef to the Senior Citizens.

Linda Naylor Frye, president of the Rotary Club, stated that Miles Patton of Hedley won the Pumpkin Guess contest at 162 pounds, and he got to take the pumpkin home.  Sam Hawkins of Clarendon was the winner of the shotgun giveaway.