shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com September 5, 2017 • Page 3 ‘Dive Into Fall’ At 17th Annual Great Akron Scarecrow Festival Akron, IA – Families from across northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota will kick off the fall season at the Great Akron Scarecrow Festival in Akron, Iowa, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. The 17th annual festival held in the Akron City Park will feature a scarecrow decorating contest, homemade food and baked goods, kids’ games and activities, a petting zoo, and dozens of craft vendors. The theme for the 2017 festival is “Dive Into Fall,” highlighting the start of the autumn season and the Akron community’s efforts to raise funds for improvements to the community swimming pool. The pool improvement fund is just one of the many projects supported by proceeds from the annual festival. Following the 2016 festival, more than $10,000 were donated to about 25 projects, programs and events in Akron and Westfield. “We’re excited to host a family-friendly event in a small-town atmosphere,” said Lisa Nielsen, member of GFWC/Iowa Friendship & Service Club and one of the festival coordinators. “What started as a small event has grown to attract visitors, competitors and vendors from throughout the region and helps raise funds to support programs all year long.” The festival is hosted and organized by the 40 members of the Akron Friendship & Service Club, a non-profit charitable and service organization that is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), and supported by dozens of volunteers. The highlight of the festival is the scarecrow decorating contest, and the 2017 contest includes several new ways to win. Contestants of all ages create and decorate scarecrows of all sizes, shapes and themes to compete for more than $800 in cash and donated prizes. Scarecrows are judged in three age categories: preschool through 5th grade, 6th through 12th grade, and adult. In addition to the first, second and third place prizes in each age division, other prizes include: • Best “Dive Into Fall” themed scarecrow will be recognized with a family pass to the Akron City Pool for the 2018 summer season. • People’s Choice award voted on by festival goers. People’s Choice voting will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the festival information booth. • “Chamber’s Choice” award will be presented by the Akron Chamber of Commerce to the best scarecrow in the Adult category and combined preschool through 12th grade categories that shows the best hometown spirit and support of Akron and Westfield communities and businesses. • “School Spirit” award will be presented by the Akron-Westfield Athletic Booster Club for scarecrow that shows the best Westerner spirit. Participants are encouraged to be creative with both the themes and materials used for creating their scarecrows. From superheroes to movie stars, and minions to traditional scarecrows, it is always fun to see what personalities the competitors choose to create each year. For festival goers who would like to take the fall fun home with them, an auction of the scarecrow entries will be held at 2:00 p.m. All scarecrows entered in the adult and 6th through 12th grade categories will be auctioned. Children in the preschool through 5th grade category can decide whether to take their scarecrows home or auction them. Children will keep busy all day with carnival games, mini-train rides, inflatables and a free petting zoo. Face painting and glitter tattoos are also available. Community and school leaders will take a turn in the “Splash Into Fall” booth where kids can pay to throw sponges at their favorite teachers, coaches and administrators. Festival visitors won’t leave hungry. Food booths and vendors will feature taverns, hot dogs, tacos-in-a-bag, homemade pies, kettle corn, funnel cakes, and other fall treats. The “Nature’s Harvest” store includes hundreds of homemade breads, cakes, pies and treats made by Friendship & Service Club members for purchase. More than 40 vendors will offer crafts, clothing, popular brand products, and food for sale. Funds raised from the 2016 Scarecrow Festival were used to support projects across the community including a donation Milling Organic Grains & High Tunnel Fruit Tours Sept. 9 YANKTON, S.D. – The South Dakota Specialty ProducBlack Hills Chapter of Professional Chefs, SDSU Extension, ers Association has coordinated their final two tours of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, Northern Plains summer featuring specialty crops and value-added products. Sustainable Ag Society and the USDA. The tours and programs are scheduled for Sept. 9 featuring Please note that chefs can receive 2.00 CEH’s for particimilled organic grains, a bakery, cover crops, and fruit propating in the tour. Master Gardeners can receive Continuing duction in high tunnels in the Alcester and Beresford region. Education credits for participating in tours and volunteer Local producers, chefs, consumers and organizations hours for helping with tours. Contact Cory T. (sdspameminvolved in local or specialty foods are encouraged to attend bers@gmail.com) if you wish to participate. the free tours. The first tour will begin at 10:30 a.m. CT at Dakota Earth Bakery at 114 East 2nd Street in Alcester, with a presentation by owner, Dan Avery. Following the presentation, participants will have lunch at the bakery. Only those who want to eat lunch need to register. The cost is $10-$12, depending on the meal you choose. Payment will be collected the day of the event. Please contact Cory T. (sdspamembers@gmail.com) no later than Sept. 7 to register for lunch. Participants will travel to the SDSU Southeast Research Farm at 29974 University Road, Beresford, for the second tour starting at 1:30 p.m. Busch & Dr. Peter Sexton will present Busch Light on “Cover Crops” at 2 p.m. 30pks At 2:30 p.m. Brad Rops will present “Growing Fruit in $ 55 High Tunnels.” 605-665-7865 Due to road construc109 W. 3rd St. in Downtown Yankton tion on University Road use alternate routes to reach the farm. From the east take I-29 Beresford exit 2.5 miles west on Highway 46; turn south (left) on Greenfield Road and go three miles south, turn west (right) go three miles on 300th and turn north (right) on University Road 0.25 mile. From the west, from corner of Highway 46 and 19, turn south and go three miles to 300th Street; turn east (left) and go three miles; turn north (left) on University Road 0.25 mile. The event is sponsored by South Dakota Specialty Producers Association in partnership with the American Culinary Federation- Always LOW Liquor Discounts! 16. to the Akron swimming pool improvement fund, sponsoring the children’s theater performance at the Akron Opera House, medical equipment for Akron EMS, new children’s furniture at the Akron Library, and improvements at the Akron City Park, Akron Area Museum, Akron Children’s Center, Akron Senior Citizen Center. The Friendship and Service Club supports scholarships for students, classroom programs and several student groups at Akron-Westfield, including National History Day participants, FFA, Art Club, and the Dance Team. For more information, visit www. AkronScarecrowFestival.com or email AkronScarecrow@gmail.com. Visit us on Facebook at “Great Akron Scarecrow Festival” to learn more about the event and to enter weekly giveaways and contests ahead of the festival. The Akron Friendship & Service Club is a non-profit charitable organization that brings together women from Akron and surrounding communities to promote friendliness, local and area support, and an awareness of causes around us. The GFWC/Iowa Friendship & Service Club is part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), an international organization founded in 1890 for the betterment of society through a variety of community improvement projects (www.gfwc.org). The club is also a member of GFWC/Iowa (www.gfwciowa.org). YOUR RADIATOR HEADQUARTERS! • Great Parts • Great Warranty On-Hand & In-Stock! NO WAITING! Cox Auto 1007 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD 605•665•4494 WE Buy Estates RIVERCITY Treasures & Pawn 301 E. 3rd Street, Yankton, SD 665-3588 Need help liquidating the belongings of a family or estate? Personal experience given to help liquidate the belongings of a business, family, or estate! 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