Roughly six weeks away from the big weekend, Trigg County’s Country Ham Festival Committee gathered Wednesday afternoon for the first of two meetings this month, lining out those final details for all those dressings before the time arrives.
Cadiz On Main Director Brianna Hyde confirmed that between robust sponsorship and the prepaying of several booth operators, more than $69,000 has been raised for the October shindig.
Last year’s estimated expense, she said, was near $75,000 — meaning officials are within $6,000 of matching last year’s budgetary needs — and already the entertainment and main stage contracts are locked in for the weekend.
Hyde also noted that a “Locals Corner,” planned for Trigg County residents and their products, has been slow to take off because it’s currently located on a side street and off the main drag. Hyde added those spaces are half the size and half the price of regular booth rentals, but are supposed to serve more as safe incubators for local business.
One of the spaces has been filled, but eight more remain, and while it will be heavily promoted before and during the festival, if those don’t fill, Hyde said the idea will have to be tabled and explored more in-depth next summer.
Shuttles are still a concern, as well. Hyde said last year’s service cost around $1,000, was inconsistent, and more problems were created than solved.
Veteran Drone Services will be sponsoring the pedal tractor pull, so it is making its return.
The “Hog Call” competition is coming back, too, while the charity celebrity “Ham & Biscuit” eating contest will return for a second-straight year and will be joined with an open-to-the-public division.
Instead of being held at the Renaissance Stage, the famed auction of the annual 4-H country hams will be held at the kickoff breakfast, perhaps in order to drum up even more support. As a lead up to this year’s celebration, several events will be taking place at the Trigg County Recreation Complex, including a Barrel Show on October 5, as well as a horse show and some pony pulls. A more complete schedule of these plans will come at a later date.
Deadlines for sponsors to be on this year’s T-shirt have been extended to September 15 because printing them on the back won’t cause any delays in production and post-production.
