Parades......
"They're All About Kids"

by: Bobby McDonald

Royalty.....Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Leslie Horne, led the
Parade atop the traditional Queen's float and waved to
the crowds that lined the streets of Sulphur Springs.

The hour of 11:00 on Saturday dawned with bright sunshine and bright smiles atop a myriad of conveyances that made their way along the parade route from Buford Park to downtown and on out Broadway Street. The 46th annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival parade was led by Queen Leslie Horne and Parade Marshalls, Herbert and Shirley Anderson.

Brightly decorated floats of all kinds, horses, milk trucks, and tractors, wove their way before one of the larger crowds that Dairy Festival promoters had seen in recent years. However, the mini-floats "stole the show!"

The Little Misses and Little Misters were in competition with each other in decorating golf carts and other conveyances to ride the parade route. The children will also be a part of the annual pageant and queen's coronation on Saturday, June 18th, in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

From cowgirls and long tall buckaroos, to princesses and her gentlemanly escort, the youngsters were "decked-out" in all sorts of descriptions. There was "the cat that played the fiddle," "starlite star bright,"
"stars and stripes," and almost any other "take" on stars one could imagine. Take a look at some of the youngsters and their creative mini-floats.

Chase Haney and Darbi Williams rode on a mini-float that took on the patriotic
theme of "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Kasen and Allie Price were farmers on their mini-float, shown at left, and this little princess found her
a real cowboy as she reigned over their mini-float on the right.

"Hey diddle, diddle, the cow jumped over the moon".....on the Voorheese and Burgin
mini-float.

And it was "double" the farmers on the Voss and Burgin float, as they promoted milk
and other dairy products.

Grab your partner and dosi-do, was Eli Sellers idea, on the Sellers-Moore entry in
Saturday's mini-float competition.

Watch for all the youngsters that rode in Saturday's parade on the mini-floats, as they bring a completely different aspect to Saturday night's performance in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

 

Click here for more parade photos.

We cover all aspects of the
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Activities

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They'll Be "Double Dippin' "
In The Ice Cream Contest

by: Bobby McDonald

Melissa Heinen, left, and her twin sister, Mary Ellen Hoybook, will both be competing
in the Texas State Ice Cream Contest on Saturday. Both tell of having a "secret"
ingredient in their cream, so watch for this duo in the "winner's circle."

Judges in Saturday's Texas State Ice Cream Contest will literally be "seeing double" as local resident Mary Ellen Hoybook and her twin sister, Melissa Heinen, from Plano, compete for the Championship. The twins will be "double dippin' " in the contest, as both plan on entering a strawberry ice cream in the fruit category and then Mary Ellen will be preparing an entry for the vanilla category, as Melissa "whips up" a freezer of Cappachino Crunch.

Hoybook and Heinen were born on September 1, 1962 in Pleasanton, Texas, and grew to adulthood dressing alike and doing most of the same things. "We were very competitive as we grew up," denoted Melissa. "Especially in elementary school!"

"Then, by the time we got to high school, I was more interested in FFA and livestock projects, and Melissa was more 'artsy'," remembers Mary Ellen.

"And, those culinary arts are what will aid me in beating my twin sister," chides Melissa. "Wouldn't you think that making ice cream was more of an art thing?"

"But, my agricultural training gives me an edge, by knowing all about where milk and dairy products come from," inserts Mary Ellen. "And, after all I'm a former winner in the contest!"

Mary Ellen is four minutes older than Melissa and works with her husband, Mike Hoybook, in operating their family owned business, Discount Computers, in Sulphur Springs. Melissa, on the other hand, is a Security Manager for United Parcel Service. "We kinda went in different directions once we graduated from high school," denotes Mary Ellen. "However, we've always been very, very close!"

Melissa and Mary Ellen were the fifth and sixth children in a family of six, that grew-up on a ranch in South Texas. They have four older brothers. "So, we had to be close to survive all the antics that our older brothers could come up with," remembers Melissa.

"And, with four brothers we had to learn how to cook at an early age. Those boys could eat!" denotes Mary Ellen.

One of Melissa's secret ingredients is that she has managed to coax Marshall Hoybook, her nephew, into helping her make her ice cream. "How is one to really compete when your own son is a 'turn-coat'," expresses Mary Ellen. "Nobody but my twin sister would 'stoop so low' as to entice my own son to 'jump ship' and help his favorite aunt!"

"But, I've got one advantage," denotes Hoybook. "I've always lived in Texas and after all, this is a Texas State Ice Cream Contest! Melissa spent twelve years in New Jersey, so some of that 'Yankee' must have rubbed-off on her, while she was away!"

Is living in New Jersey a sin, kinda like the picante sauce commercial from New York City, when it comes to making Texas Ice Cream?

I guess it will be up to the judges on Saturday to decide this "battle of the twin siblings" and who actually has the best strawberry ice cream. Be at the Civic Center Grounds at 4:00 and get your own scoop of each sister's ice cream and judge for yourself!

Regardless of who wins, it certainly has been fun competing with my twin sister," was that Melissa or Mary Ellen that said that?

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"Lookin' For Jack"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

"Lookin' for Jack".......that's what folks in Hopkins County will be doing over the weekend. "Jack" and thirty-three other hot aire balloons will be competing for air space in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, when theThird Annual Dairy Aire's Hot Air Balloon Fest "kicks-off" in our town.

"You have to get-up early to see the balloons floating around Sulphur Springs," warns Mary Crump and Pam Black, from the Dairy Festival Balloon Committee. "Balloon pilots check wind speeds and weather conditions at sunrise and if they get a 'green light,' it is off into the sky!"

Pam Black, Balloon Fest Chairman, left, and Sheronda
Greenwood, Balloon Miester of the 2005 Rally, discuss
weather conditions and the outlay of this year's event.

Five balloons had already made it to Sulphur Springs on Friday morning, but cloudy conditions and upper wind speeds prevented them from "lifting-off" at 6:19 a.m., when the weather reading was taken at sunrise. However, weather conditions for later in the day and on Saturday and Sunday mornings "look good," according to Sheronda Greenwood, Balloon Miester of the 2005 Rally. "Safety for pilots and for those who go up in the balloons are of utmost importance and we certainly won't be taking any chances on 'foul weather'," she warned, in her Friday morning briefing at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

What begins as a folded piece of cloth is inflated
into a giant hot aire balloon before your eyes.

An unidentified balloon pilot from Decatur, Alabama, "shoots the gas and a bright flame"
into the balloon, from the basket. The infusion of propane burning will complete the
inflation as it is raised into the air.

However, three of the beautiful giant balloons were raised and "tethered" to the ground, to the delight of the crowd gathered on the soccer field at Sulphur Springs High School. Balloon pilots from as far away as Decatur, Alabama, have come to participate in this year's event, and sighted the friendly folks, the great reception from the community, and all the friendships that they have made in the past two years, as the major reasons that pilots keep coming back to Sulphur Springs in June. As Chairman of the Balloon Committe, Black stated, "Many of the pilots like our rally because of the small town atmosphere and the warm reception that we try to have for them. We want them to leave Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County glad that they came and met the folks in our town!"

The hot aire balloon pilots will be participating in a cow milking contest on Saturday and riding in the 46th Annual Dairy Festival Parade, as part of their participation in community activities. "And, we'll be eating lots of that homemade ice cream, on Saturday," reminded one pilot. "They've already promised me a freezer all to myself, and that was reason enough for me to make the trip to Sulphur Springs.

"Jack" the special balloon of this year's rally, is "the pirate balloon," and owned by Rick, Debbie, and Leona Peterson of Mabank, Texas. "Jack" is a Firefly AX-8B model balloon and holds 90,000 cubic feet of air when inflated fully. The balloon stands 70 feet tall and sports a 50 foot wide mustache. His black eye patch is only a mere 18 feet tall and the earing from his left ear is four feet in diameter. Owners proclaim that he is by far the "biggest buccaneer ever to sail the 'high seas'!"

Three balloons were raised on Friday morning before a cheering crowd at the Sulphur Springs
High School Soccer Field, to "kick-off" the 2005 Dairy Festival Balloon-Fest.

Registration for the balloon pilots will begin on Friday afternoon at 3:00 at Best Western Trail Dust Inn and continue through 5:00. Then, balloon pilots will be treated to dinner and a tour at Aerostar Industries in Sulphur Springs, who makes balloons, beginning at 6:00.

For the public, make your way to the High School area in Sulphur Springs for the beginning of the "Balloon Glow" which will begin at 8:30 p.m., on Friday.

The Hot Aire Balloon Rally is just one of a myriad of events that will be taking place this initial weekend of the annaul tribute to the Hopkins County Dairy Industry.

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These Dairymen
Are "Seeing Spots!"

by: Bobby McDonald

Seated left to right, Trey Hinton, Walt Gamblin, and Scotty Reed, dairy farmers south of Sulphur Springs
discuss 42 strategy, as Phil Gamblin looks on and offers some advice.

With the hay crop "short" because of dry weather in Hopkins County, most dairy farmers are busy trying to get every bale of hay preserved for the winter. And, Scotty Reed, Walt Gamblin, and Trey Hinton are no exceptions. These young dairy farmers were all busy baling hay this week in the Reilly Springs and Greenpond Communities. However, what "sets them apart" is that once there is a lunch break or a breakdown, the trio manages to find a shade, where a game of dominoes can be played. They are "practicing" for the upcoming Dairy Festival 42 Tournament that will unfold at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 11th, in the Hopkins County Civic Center Exhibit Hall.

"We generally enter both the Dairy Festival and the Fall Festival tournaments," advised Walt Gamblin, a dairyman in the Greenpond Community. "It is a matter of pride among several of us in the area, that like to see how far we can go in the tournament!"

"And, we've managed to win our fair share of the tournaments," inserted Scotty Reed. "Of course, it is always a challenge and a matter of drawing the right hands at the right time."

"But, you've got to know what to do with those hands and how to use your partner in the game," denoted Trey Hinton. "And, the more that you practice, the better you get at the game."

"If practice makes perfect, then these ol' boys ought to win," chided Phil Gamblin, as he offered a pointer to one of them in playing his hand. "These guys get together all the time to play and I think this week they've been really praying for rain, just so they can get in a fair share of domino playing!"

To enter the Dairy Festival 42 Tournament, participants are encouraged to get to the Civic Center a few minutes before the 2:00 start time, and register in the Exhibit Hall.

Would you bid "42," "84" or Nelo?

 

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Are You Looking For a Way
To Beat The Summer Heat?

Go to our "food page" and try one
of the local homemade ice cream
recipes, in celebration of "June
is Dairy Month"

____________________

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Post your thoughts on the
Public Forum Page.....

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....And, A Carnival
Moves Into Town

by: Bobby McDonald

Workers with the Triple "T" Entertainment Company moved into Sulphur Springs on
Tuesday afternoon, and began erecting parts to assemble the Dairy Festival Carnival.

Hot and humid weather in Hopkins County didn't stop the employees of Triple "T" Entertainment from moving into town on Tuesday afternoon, to begin erecting the various parts of the Dairy Festival Carnival. They assembled a slide, set up game booths, and even took a trial spin with the hobby horses, in preparation for the opening night.

The carnival opens at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday and is open daily through Saturday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Thursday night is "Arm Band" Night and carnival goers can purchase a $12.00 arm band and ride all rides on the grounds as many times as time allows.

From awesome slides to hobby horses, to games of chance, the Dairy Festival Carnival offers something for everyone of all ages.

From hobby horses to giant slides, the rides at the Dairy Festival Carnival offer
something for everyone, of all ages.

Try your skills at riding the tilt-a-whirl or octypus at the Dairy Festival Carnival.

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Milk Goes "Heavenly"

by: Bobby McDonald

While their classmates are headed for a trip to Europe, eight young
ladies in Hopkins County are busy putting "final touches" on Dairy
Festival floats. Breiann Birchfield, left, and Alina Tatum glue stars,
work with cotton, and make a "heavenly" creation.

Most anyone who has grown up in Hopkins County has an affinity for milk and dairy products. That is just part of our "culture." However, very few of us find milk "heavenly," especially when it requires that you have to climb out of bed at 3:00 a.m. to go get the cows up! But, for two young ladies, Breiann Birchfield and Alina Tatum, milk has taken on somewhat of a "religious experience." The two girls have designed their Dairy Festival float along the premise that "Milk is a Heavenly Drink."

Several dairy farmers might have discussed "the pearly gates" with a particular ol' cantankerous cow, but few of them were refering to them in a positive sort of way. However, the float comes complete with it's own version of the entrance to heaven, right there among the milk shakes, ice cream sundaes, and perfect white clouds.

Makes one wonder if St. Peter is "a bull" or "a heifer," doesn't it?

And, certainly we have seen many "twists and turns" on the milk theme during 46 years of float building, but dairy farmers interested in marketing milk might consult Birchfield and Tatum for a way to market "neopolitan" milk like creates the rainbow on the float. Wouldn't you like to get vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate streams of milk, all out of the same carton?

Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavored milk, all out of the same carton. Now, that
is a "novel" milk marketing idea!

Hours of time and preparation go into producing an award-winning Dairy Festival float. Besides the outward beauty, many man-hours are spent beneath the "fluff" on the outside, to make certain that the structure is safe and has features to insure the girls can comfortably ride the parade route. "That's where our dad's came in real handy," denoted Breiann Birchfield. "They were responsible for the larger construction projects that involved most of the hammers and nails!"

"And, it was our mom's that did most of the paper mache' work and created the cows and the giant milk shakes," inserts Alina Tatum. "We've learned many uses for spray glue and cotton, too!"

Michelle Tatum, mother of Dairy Festival candidate, Alina Tatum, dons
plastic gloves and works with spray adhesive to make the clouds around
a rather unique "heavenly" cow.

"You missed a spot right there," instructs Teresa Birchfield, as Howard Birchfield
spray paints a "heavenly" design. They are the parents of Breiann Birchfield.

Both Alina Tatum and Breiann Birchfield will be "milk angels" floating in the clouds, beneath the milk rainbow and before the "pearly gates," as they ride the parade route on Saturday. "We're almost through with the float and then we've got to concentrate on our talent segment of the pageant," stated Tatum. "That's going to be next week!"

"But, we've got to milk our cow on Saturday afternoon," reminded Breiann. "But, I'm not worried about that part, because I've already gone to my granddad's and practiced! Those cows are just baby calves that have grown-up! And, being the 'dairy angels' that Alina and I are, we shouldn't have any problems inviting them to 'heaven'!"

 

Despite all the hard work, building a Dairy Festival float
can still be loads of fun and create memories that will last
for a lifetime.

Meanwhile, across town, three other Dairy Festival floats are being constructed in like-manner for Saturday's Dairy Festival Parade. The parade will leave Buford Park and wind its way through the downtown area to the end on the south side of town. Parade Marshalls, Herbert and Shirley Anderson, will begin the parade route at 11:00 a.m. promptly.

Breiann Birchfield is sponsored by Mothers Culture Club and Alina Tatum is sponsored by Guaranty Bond Bank, in this year's Dairy Festival activities.