The weather was very good for the 2012 Ozark Ham and Turkey Festival. It remained overcast during the event and although the early morning was a bit on the cool side, it warmed up comfortably for the afternoon, cooling off a bit later in the day.
The day began with the 5K walk run at the Village Green Shopping Center and Kiwanis breakfast at the Commerce Bank drive through lot. The "Anything Goes" parade started at 9:30 a.m. At the flag-raising ceremony, master of ceremonies Mayor Norris Gerhart dedicated the event to Linda Martin, whose longtime involvement in spearheading the event got it going and kept it running for many years. Martin died a few weeks ago.
The 70 foot long submarine sandwich sponsored by Cargill was built street in front of the Courthouse.
The festival goers checked out a great variety of food and vendor booths and watched the performances on the two outdoor stages and the Finke Theatre stage.
The booths offered an indescribable variety of items, including a Tarot Reader (people $10, your dog $5), hand crafted pottery items, crafts, t-shirts, all types of food and beverages including St. James Winery products. Since this is a political year, the two major political parties had booths offering stickers, signs and banners.
The car show and antique tractor show drew people to the Moniteau County Fairgrounds. The band on Third Street provided music for the adjacent barbecue contest and the washer board tournament.
The Children's Barnyard and Kid's Corner, and the available food and drink delighted the youngsters. The Diaper Derby provided entertainment for parents and grandparents as they watched the diaper-clad participants. The Historical Society museum was open.