The 8th annual Heifer Festival is being held on Saturday, September 22, at the Richwood Fairgrounds in Union County. The event will be filled with entertainment, food, kid’s games and prizes, a cake walk, animals and much more, including Teddy Bear Surgery. The proceeds from this festival go to Heifer International, a non-profit that sends animals to people in need.
The festival runs from 11:00am to 5:00pm and includes free parking, the event admission is also free and organizers say the food is reasonably priced.
Visit www.heiferfestival.org for additional details.
The Heifer Festival was started in 2005 by veterinarian Dr. Monica Decker to bring awareness of and raise funds for the non-profit organization Heifer International. Started by Ohioan Dan West in 1944, Heifer International was founded on the principle that people need self-sustaining food sources. Their philosophy is similar to the old proverb, “Give a man a fish…feed him for a day; teach him to fish…feed him for a lifetime.”
Heifer began training recipient families in animal husbandry and provided them with farm animals that were appropriate for their environment. These animals in return provided much needed protein and fiber that could be used to nourish the family with the excess products being sold for profit. Families became healthier and had a source of income that they could use to improve their homes, buy medicine, and send their children to school.
At the core of the Heifer philosophy is the idea that families who receive “gift animals” return their first offspring to a neighbor in need. The giving becomes self-sustaining and helps entire communities.
Heifer International has helped families in over 125 countries including many in the United States.
“I have never been comfortable asking people for donations without providing something in return,” Dr. Decker explained. “Instead of asking people for cash, we host a festival providing food, auction items and games at low prices. At the end of the day, we have raised much needed donations for Heifer International and attendees have had an educational and entertaining day.”
The other key objective of The Heifer Festival planners was that festival would have no admission or parking fees and many free activities would be provided so that every family could enjoy the festival.
New for this year, organizers are asking for a voluntary donation to the local food and personal needs pantries. Volunteers from the pantries will collect cans of food and paper products at the gates.
Musical entertainment this year includes Township Road 2, Believe!, Kristyn Leigh, Hannah Lewis, Patty Beery Dance and Draper the Magician.
One of the free activities includes a festival favorite, “Teddy Bear Surgery,” where children bring their battered and bruised stuffed animals for a makeover. The stuffed animals receive their own e-collar and bandages and get stickers for good behavior.
Children also enjoy The Heifer Festival Coloring Contest where they can display their animal artwork and win prizes. Each year more than 100 children complete coloring sheets and display them for the Heifer Festival attendees.
The festival also has free activities including a straw maze, wagon rides, agricultural and historical demonstrations. Many different farm animals will be on display to educate festival attendees about how they would be used by Heifer International to benefit families in need.
Families can play a dozen carnival games to win tickets that they can redeem for prizes at The General Store. Game tickets can also be used to enjoy the inflatable bounce house and the Heifer Festival Dunking Booth.
The Heifer Festival also features many canine demonstrations and activities. Canine agility presented by the Hardin County Tailwaggers, a Pet Parade, the Pretty Pet Contest (where pets are dressed up as Heifer International animals), and the Blessing of the Animals, where all companion and farm animals will be blessed by local pastors.
There will be a large silent auction featuring items provided by central Ohio businesses and individuals. Another favorite is the Farm Animal Cake Walk, where cakes and pies are decorated like Heifer International animals. The cake walk runs the entire festival and over 50 cakes and pies are given away.
A website with driving directions, detailed information, and printable coloring pages can be found at www.heiferfestival.org.
The Heifer Festival is coordinated by the North Union United Methodist Cooperative which would like to say a big “Thank You” to the community for their support of the Heifer Festival.
About Marion Online News
