This year’s 10th Annual Heifer Festival is Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 10:00am-4:00pm at the North Union High School in Richwood. After being held previously at the Richwood Fairgrounds, organizers say this year’s move to North Union will eliminate the weather uncertainties.
Free entertainment will be provided throughout the day on the high school stage by a variety of local bands singing music from many different genres. Food will be available for purchase “at low prices” including pulled pork, chicken-n-moodles, homemade pies and much more. Craft vendors will also be present at the event.
Farm animals, straw mazes, a coloring contest, and “Teddy Bear Surgery,” where Ohio State veterinary students suture up wounded stuffed animals, are all free activities that will be at the festival. There will also be many carnival-style games where children win tickets that they redeem for their favorite prizes at the General Store.
The Heifer Festival is also “Pet Friendly”, and visitors are encouraged to bring their favorite furry friends. There will be a Pretty Pet Contest (all animals dressed as “Heifer” animals), Pet Parade, and Blessing of the Animals by local ministers. You can also just sit back and watch local canine agility groups show off their dogs’ many talents.
A favorite activity at the festival is the Farm Animal Cake Walk where all the cakes are decorated as Heifer International animals.
Due to the generosity of central Ohio businesses and individuals throughout the past nine years, the majority of the money that has been raised is due to our large silent auction. In years past this auction has had over 150 packed baskets that are offered to the highest bidder with all the profits being donated to buy animals to help those in need.
The Heifer Festival in Richwood, a fundraiser for the world renowned non-profit organization, Heifer International, was started in 2005 when it was apparent many locally did not know of the worthy non-profit started by a fellow Ohioan.
Heifer International began in 1944 when its founder Dan West saw first-hand that people “did not need a cup but a cow.” Pregnant heifers were donated by local farmers and shipped to families in need. When these heifers calved their first offspring then families were asked to give away the first calves to a neighboring family in need. This became the core of the Heifer Philosophy that families “pass on the gift”.
Heifer International’s sustainable giving 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.” In addition to cattle, Heifer International began donating goats, chickens and now donates 30 different types of animals to families in need throughout the United States and in over 125 countries.
In 2005, the first Heifer Festival was held in Richwood, Ohio. The goal of the festival was to educate local families of the needs of others, learn about how Heifer’s animal donations were helping those in need and raise money through fun activities that could be donated to Heifer International from the local community.
From the start, the Heifer Festival planners established that there would be no admission or parking fees and that many of the activities would be free so that all families could come and enjoy the festival and learn about helping others in need. In spite of the low prices and free activities, more than $66,000 has been raised through the Heifer Festival since 2005.
Driving directions, detailed information, full listing of sponsors, and printable coloring pages can be found at www.heiferfestival.org.
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