49th Annual Jesse James Festival Guide - Kearney, Missouri

49th annual jesse james festival guide sept. 13-14 & 19-22, 2019 kearney, mo.

2 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune

2019 jesse james festival guide

September 2019

Schedule of Events

Friday, Sept. 13

7 p.m. Teen Dance — For grades 6 and older. Fundraiser for community youth in need. Presented by First Christian Church of Kearney at Jesse James Park pavilion.

Saturday, Sept. 14 8 a.m. Bill James 5K/10K Classic Run — Proceeds benefit the Heroes Monument in Jesse James Park.

7:30 p.m. Demolition derby — Presented by Grandstand Attractions; $10 adult admission, free for children under 5

Thursday, Sept. 19 6 p.m. Carnival opens

Friday, Sept. 20 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Check-in for BBQ cook-off 5:30 p.m. Kids Q on the Hill cooks meeting — Open to children ages 6 to 15 6 p.m. Cornhole tournament — Held in Jesse James Park 6 p.m. Carnival opens 7 p.m. Kids Q on the Hill turn-in time 7 p.m. Miniature rodeo — New this year, Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association invites participants age 19 and under for a chance to win and compete in a rodeo that features miniature bulls and ponies.

8 p.m.-midnight Festival dance — Featuring Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey

Benders at the park pavilion; admission is free, no outside beverages.

Saturday, Sept. 21 7-9 a.m. BBQ Cook off final check-in 8 a.m. Parade staging — Located along Platte-Clay Way in downtown 8-8:45 a.m. Disc golf check-in — Located near Hole No. 1 in Jesse James Park 8-11 a.m. Arts & Crafts vendors setup 8:15 a.m. Little Mr. & Miss contest lineup — Located in front of Kearney Feed & Supply, 300 Washington St. 8:30 a.m. Little Mr. & Miss judging — Located in front of Kearney Feed & Supply 9 a.m. Disc golf meeting — Players will meet near Hole No. 1 in Jesse James Park.

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Safari Adventures — New this year, Lazy L. Safari Park brings educational shows about animals from zoo staff; features kangaroo photo opportunities and camel rides.

9:30 a.m. Disc golf shotgun start 10 a.m. Parade — Located throughout downtown Kearney 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Arts & Crafts Alley 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Nick’s Barnyard Buddies Petting Zoo Noon Carnival opens Noon Comedy magician — Magic Mike performs

12:30 p.m. BBQ Cook-off — Judging begins 12:30 p.m. Mud volleyball captains meeting 1 p.m. Mud volleyball begins 1 p.m. Studio 320 performs — Dancers will perform at the Jesse James Park Amphitheater.

7 p.m. URA Rodeo — Presented by Grand River Rodeo Co., includes a kids boot scramble; ages 0 to 6 and 7 to 12. Miniature rodeo also continues.

8 to midnight Festival dance — Featuring Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders at the park pavilion.

Admission is $6. Ages 21 and older; no outside beverages permitted.

Sunday, Sept. 22 9-11 a.m. Children’s fishing tournament — For ages 0 to 12 at Jesse James Park pond 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Safari Adventures — Educational shows featuring a kangaroo and camel rides; presented by Lazy L. Safari Park 10:30 a.m. Cowboy worship service — Presented by High Point Cowboy Church 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Arts & Crafts Alley Noon-4 p.m. Nick’s Barnyard Buddies petting zoo Noon Comedy — Mike Winters performs Noon Carnival opens 2:30 p.m. Rodeo — Presented by Grand River Rodeo, includes kids boot scramble; for ages 0-12

2019 jesse james festival guide

September 2019

A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 3

New entertainment highlights festival’s 49th year

T

aking part in the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals convention this past winter in Columbia, the Jesse James Festival Committee came away with a plethora of new ideas and contacts, which eventgoers of the 49th annual Jesse James Festival will benefit from.

New features this year range from adrenaline-pumping entertainment options like ax throwing, miniature bull riding and pony races to educational with exotic animal shows that include photo opportunities with a kangaroo and chances to ride a camel. Other new features include a cornhole tournament and added dance options featuring live performances from Outlaw

Jim & The Whiskey Benders.

While considered by some to be an eerie and ominous day, September’s Friday the 13th in Kearney will be full of dancing fun as this year’s festival kicks off with a teen dance at 7 p.m. at the Jesse James Park pavilion, located in Jesse James Park, 3001 N. Missouri Highway 33.

The festival continues Saturday, Sept. 14, with a 5/10K run and demolition derby.

The festival continues the following week with the carnival’s opening on Thursday, Sept. 19, and kicks into high gear Friday to Sunday, Sept. 20 to 22. The second weekend of the festival is marked by barbecue competitions, a disc golf competition, Little Mr. and Miss contest, mud volleyball

tournament, magic and laughs from a comic magician, petting zoo, shopping opportunities in Arts & Craft Alley and a parade that snakes its way through downtown Kearney.

This year’s parade also includes new features. With a “Salute Our Troops” theme, the parade will pay homage to our nation’s military and the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of World War II. A flag-raising ceremony honoring service members will take place ahead of the parade on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Whether you like to boogie, watch fastpaced cars crunch into one another, enjoy taking the family to a carnival or let your inner lumberjack out by throwing axes, this year’s festival has something for you.

The namesake of the Jesse James Festival was born on a farm in Kearney on Sept. 5, 1847.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Hit the dance floor In addition to carnival games, rides, petting zoos and other shows, the Jesse James Festival offers multiple chances to dance the night away.

For teens

COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders will bring their performances of outlaw country to the Jesse James Park pavilion during dances on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21. The show on Sept. 21 is for adults aged 21 and older only.

A dance for teens, sponsored by Kearney First Christian Church, will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept.

13, at the Jesse James Park pavilion.

The dance features a live DJ and is open to children in grades six through 12.

Admission is $5 per person and reentry will not be allowed.

Proceeds benefit local teens in need of assistance with medical expenses.

The event will feature chaperones, but parents are also welcome.

For more dance details, call 918-2766.

For all

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, two dances will feature live music from Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders. Well-known in the region, Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders’ sound is best described as hard-hitting country with undertones of New Orleans funk and southern rock. The band counts Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard among its influences.

In their hometown of Kansas City, the band has opened for David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, John Michael Montgomery, Jason Boland and Stragglers, The Wilders, Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys and Blake Shelton.

The first dance featuring the band will be 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept.

20, at the Jesse James Park pavilion.

The all-ages show is free, but outside coolers or beverages are not allowed as concessions will be available for purchase.

For those who prefer to watch dance performances rather than participate, dancers from Studio 320 dance studio will perform a selection of dances featuring pop hits near the Kearney Amphitheater stage. The performance is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

The amphitheater is located adjacent to the pavilion in Jesse James Park.

For adults A second dance featuring Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders is 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sept. 21, at the park pavilion. Admission is for those 21 and older. The cost is $6 per person. Outside coolers or beverages will also not be allowed at this dance.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Demo derby Sept. 14 COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

This year’s Bill James Classic 5/10K is Saturday, Sept. 21.

Bill James race returns Like the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the Bill James Classic races at the Jesse James Festival will remain the same as previous years in 2019.

“It’s similar to what we’ve done,” Stephanie DePrenger, an event organizer, said of the 5K and 10K races. “We always have our out-andback race. It’s a nice course.”

The start time is slated for 8 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21, at North Grove and Boude streets. The finish line for both races is in downtown Kearney, at North

Grove and E. Washington streets.

Registration can be completed at www.jessejamesfestival.com before it closes at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, otherwise registrations can take place the day of at the packet pickup in downtown Kearney from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

The cost for an entry is $30. Parking is at First Baptist Church, 303 S. Grove St. New this year, active duty military or military veterans can email steph_grimm@ hotmail.com for a discount.

A crashin’, smashin’ good time returns to Kearney as Grandstand Attractions brings back its demolition derby beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.

Featuring four classes, this event will include the: • Modify class, encompassing cars of a harder build; • Semi Stock class, which are competing passenger cars; • Bone Stock class, taking on larger vehicles; and • Compact class, comprised of compact cars.

“I had my biggest turnout last year,” Grandstand Attractions owner Regina McDermith said, “and I’m looking at a bigger one this year.”

Having had a number of calls already, McDermith said those in attendance

are sure to see more cars than have ever featured by Grandstand Attractions in Kearney before.

During the competition, contestants are forbidden from hitting driver doors.

Contact must be made every minute to keep from being disqualified, and fires can get players thrown out.

McDermith said the goal is to be the last one moving. To achieve this goal, the most dangerous hit allowed is headon. However, McDermith said the most common hits are the ones when drivers are trying to take out tires or a radiator.

All rules, regulations and prizes can be found on the Grandstand Attractions website, gsademoderby.com.

Tickets to the derby are $10 apiece and children under age 5 get in for free.

Concessions will be available on site and additional bleacher seating is available.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Barbecue contest adds flavor to festival for 20 years

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The Jesse James Barbeque Cook-Out is a Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event.

The 32nd annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook-Out is also the 30th annual ShowMe State Championship contest. This is also the 20th year that the barbecue has been part of the Jesse James Festival, said organizer Larry Pratt.

This year, the contest will be Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21. Check-in is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday or 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Saturday.

Sponsors are North Kansas City Beverage Co., distributors of AnheuserBusch products; and St. Michael’s Knights of Columbus Council No. 8915 of Kearney, in conjunction with the Jesse James Festival Committee.

The contest will again be sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and its judging procedures will be used. It is also the state championship, which is determined by four basic categories.

“There used to be barbecues in North

Kansas City and Blue Springs as well, but we are the one that remains,” Pratt said.

There is one division with five categories: beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken, pork shoulder/Boston butt and turkey. Pratt said the turkey was added by the Kearney group.

Judging will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday. Only the four basic KCBS categories will count toward the Grand Champion and the Reserve Grand Champion titles.

The contest will be held in the same location as the past few years. The amphitheater at the festival grounds will be the site of the cooks meeting at 6 p.m.

Friday night and the awards presentation Saturday afternoon.

Pratt expects 45 to 55 teams.

There is a $200 cash prize for first place in each category, $175 for second place, $150 for third place, $135 for fourth place

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TO ENTER THE JESSE JAMES BARBEQUE COOK-OUT The entry fee is $175 for all categories.

Advance registrations are encouraged. Electrical hookups will be available this year for $25. Entry forms and copies of rules and regulations may be picked up from the Kearney fire station on East Sixth Street; requested by emailing LPratt2@ kc.rr.com; or by mailing Jesse James Barbeque Committee, 1305 Colony Drive, Kearney, MO 64060. For more details, call (816) 935-9644.

Interested judges can email Valerie Fort at VFort@KearneyFire.org or contact her by phone at 719-5141.

and $125 for fifth place with ribbons being awarded in all places. The overall Reserve Grand Champion will receive $500 and a trophy. The Grand Champion will receive $600 and a trophy. A plaque will also be awarded by the Kearney Chamber of Commerce for the Showmanship Award.

“We have a lot of great support from area businesses and individuals,” Pratt said. “People enjoy the contest.”

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A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 7

Kids cook up competition The ninth Kids Q on the Hill invites young cooks to fire up the grill for some barbecue.

Kids ages 6 to 15 can compete in the culinary competition. Kids affiliated with a team at the Kansas City Barbeque Society’s Jesse James Barbecue Cook-Out contest may cook in their team’s designated spot.

If they are not with a team, an area will be assigned for those contestants to cook in.

Applications must be submitted

by Monday, Sept. 16. No contestants will be accepted after that date.

Check-in will be done at the cooks’ meeting Friday, Sept. 20. The kids will start cooking immediately after the meeting, which is at 5:30 p.m.

Turn-in will be at 7 p.m.

Organizer Larry Pratt said the kids are given hamburger to prepare

and present.

“They can prepare it how they want to prepare it,” he said. “It’s always fun to see what they do.”

Pratt said there have been as many as 10 kids participating.

“We would always like to have a couple more,” he said.

The kids are allowed some help from adults. However, the child must do the preparation, cooking and presentation.

One adult helper may light the grill or do any slicing deemed too dangerous for the cook. The adult helper must be present at all times until the entry is turned in.

Meat submitted for the competition must be the meat provided at the cooks meeting. It must fit in a numbered box provided by the contest. No garnish will be provided, but

there are no rules for garnish.

Kids can use their own utensils, grills, seasoning and marinades, and must use food service gloves while handling meat.

Judging will be the same as the KCBS rules based on appearance, tenderness and texture.

Awards will be handed out at the award ceremony on Saturday with the KCBS contest. Ribbons will be handed out for those kids who place as well as checks for the first- and second-place winners.

Registration forms can be found online at the jessejamesfestival.com.

Pratt said he hopes there may be some interest in the kids cooking as well as the other Friday events, as there is free admission and Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders will be playing.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

Contest welcomes area cuties

COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

This year’s Jesse James Festival Little Mr. and Miss contest is Saturday, Sept. 21, in the parking lot of Kearney Feed & Supply, 300 W. Washington St. Registration details can be found under the event drop-down from festival homepage at jessejamesfestival.com.

Jesse James Festival judges again encourage the area’s cutest youngsters to wear their best western attire or cutest dress-up clothes and participate in the Little Mr. and Miss contest.

This year’s contest is Saturday, Sept. 21. All contestants are required to be ready to line up by 8:15 a.m. with judging beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Kearney Feed & Supply store parking lot, 300 W. Washington St. in downtown Kearney.

The contest category age ranges have changed for this year, allowing younger children to participate, said vent organizer Ellyce Grassley. Mini Mr. and Miss are for entrants ages 1 and 2. The Little Mr. and Miss categories are entrants ages 3 and 4. The Junior Mr. and Miss contest is for children ages 5 to 7. Children older than 7 are no longer accepted.

All entrants are asked questions and to complete a short stage walk.

In previous interviews with the Courier-Tribune, Grassley said the contest is informal.

“We really like it be pretty laid back,” she said.

September 2019

ENTRY DETAILS Registration forms can be found online and printed from jessejamesfestival.com/events/ little-miss-mr/.

Completed forms can be emailed to e.grassley@hotmail.com or mailed to Salon 905, c/o Ellyce Grassley, 905 W. Missouri Highway 92, Kearney, MO 64060.

Walk-in contestants are not accepted.

While all entrants get something for competing, firstand second-place winners for each gender in each category receive an award.

All entrants are encouraged to ride on the parade trailer after the contest. Everyone should be ready to ride in the parade by 9:45 a.m. Any winners who ride in the parade must have an adult accompany them at all times.

Walk-ins will not be accepted. Entrants must be registered by filling out an entry form and submitting it to Grassley.

Entry forms are available at jessejamesfestival.com by clicking on the Little Miss Mr. drop-down under the Events tab.

The registration deadline is Saturday, Sept. 14.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Festival parade takes on patriotic theme While it’s the Jesse James Festival’s 49th anniversary year, the nation is celebrating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline to fight Nazis from Germany on the beaches of Normandy. By the day’s end, the Allies gained a foothold in continental Europe and turned the tide of World War II. Festival organizers said the important day in world history makes the perfect theme for this year’s Jesse James Festival parade.

“The theme is to salute our troops so we are honoring those serving, the fallCOURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO en and family of those who serve,” said In addition to celebrating Kearney’s western roots, this year’s parade will honor the military with festival committee representative Julie a “Salute to Our Troops” theme. Attendees are encouraged to don red, white and blue clothing. Hedges.

Ag a i n . . .

Vo t “Best ed o Northl f the and”

PARADE START The annual Jesse James Festival parade snakes its way through downtown Kearney starting on Clark Street. Line-up of floats and participants begins at 8 a.m. and the parade begins at 10 a.m. The parade ends on Washington Street near Kearney City Hall.

The parade will be Saturday, Sept. 21.

To help celebrate those who serve or have served, the committee wants the public to wear red, white and blue clothing and come out to spectate and cheer as floats go by.

Ahead of the parade, Kearney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Commander Jim Holmes will lead a flag-raising ceremony.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Rodeo adds mini option

The rodeo is a mainstay at the Jesse James Festival.

Jesse James festivalgoers will have multiple rodeo options to attend.

Rodeos will occur at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21; and 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22. Once again, the rodeos on Saturday and Sunday are official URA circuit events.

“The local rodeos are becoming kind of a thing of the past, and it’s kind of nice to continue it on,” Ethan Hedges, one of the event organizers, said. “It’s just not as common as it used to be.”

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A new feature will be the inclusion of the youth miniature rodeo winners.

Competition, which begins of Friday, will see participants age 19 and under compete on miniature stock sized appropriately for participants. Classes will include bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, saddle broncs and more.

“My personal favorite is the rough stock,” Hedges said. “I like the bull riding and the saddle broncs and the barebacks.

The other events are all right, but I like

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

the rough stock events because they’re more exciting.”

Mini rodeo organizer Austin Thomas said the mini rodeo, presented by Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association, includes all of the same aspects of a regular rodeo, but miniature-sized.

“Your bulls and your saddle bronc and bareback horses have those aspects of a regular rodeo, but it’s actually mini stock. When I say mini stock I don’t mean calves that haven’t grown up yet, it’s stock that has been bred to be miniatures,” he said. “They are miniatures bulls and miniature ponies that have been bred on a lot smaller scale.”

Top winners of Friday’s mini rodeo advance to perform in the Saturday URA Rodeo.

The mini rodeo option also includes wild pony races with children, which Thomas said are exciting to watch.

“It’s quite the deal if you’ve never seen a wild pony race,” he said.

Both regular rodeos on Saturday and Sunday also include a children’s boot scramble.

Admission for the Saturday and Sunday events is $10 each per person and free for children 5 and younger.

COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

This year’s round of rodeos begins with a new mini option on Friday, Sept. 20.

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

NEW: Cornhole tournament

and ESPN has televised tournaments.

“The idea was brought up at a planning meeting and it made sense to bring in something new and popular,” he said.

Whether the game is known as tailgate Whitford also leads the organization for toss or bean bag toss, cornhole is here the mud volleyball tournament on Saturday, to stay. And so is the cornhole moniker, especially with Midwesterners. Capitalizing Sept. 21.

“I wanted it on Friday because I didn’t on some of that fun, this year’s Jesse want it running into mud volleyball, which I James Festival includes a cornhole enjoy playing,” he said. “No matter what, I tournament, starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. just like competition.”

20.

Whitford brought in some local cornhole The cornhole tournament is organized players to help out. He is hoping to have 30

by Brad Whitford, a local Realtor who teams participate in the tournament. has helped out with mud volleyball at the “There will be a cash prize,” he said. festival for years. He decided he wanted Some other details are yet to be finalized. to see what could bring people out to the Whitford will put a link on the Jesse James festival grounds on Friday.

“Saturday is the big day and most people Festival website for registration. who plan to come out will come out on Saturday,” he said. “I started thinking of something that would draw people in, and I know cornhole is getting big in Kansas After Dick Parker helped design a disc City.” golf course in 2012 in Jesse James Park, Whitford said there are leagues all over locals were pleased with the new Kearney attraction.

But, as time went on, those who frequented HOW TO PLAY the course desired a tournament that brought more people to the course, according to Cornhole is a lawn game in Parker, who also assisted in bringing three which players take turns throwing such courses to Smithville Lake. bags of plastic resin at a raised platform with a hole in the far end.

“They had some locals come out, but A bag in the hole scores 3 points, the Jesse James Festival seemed to really while one on the board scores 1 help that,” Parker said. “I didn’t know if we’d point. Play continues until a team have 10 or 15 people (last year), but we or player reaches or exceeds ended up with 30 to 35 people. We could the score of 21 by means of max out with 90 players.” cancellation scoring.

The growing event returns to the Jesse James Festival this year, as Parker and others hope they can continue to increase the popularity of the sport on Kearney’s 18-hole course.

“We’re still over a month out and we have 20 people signed up,” Parker said on Aug. 22, adding that the event didn’t have a preregistration option last year. “We’re well ahead of schedule.”

People of all ages are encouraged to participate in the event on Saturday, Sept.

21. Check is from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. near the first hole, with a 9 a.m. players meeting to precede a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. The event ran for almost three hours last year.

To preregister, a link can be found at www.jessejamesfestival.com/events/discCOURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO golf. Preregistration closes at 8 p.m. on A cornhole tournament is coming to the Wednesday, Sept. 11. A player fee runs Jesse James Festival on Friday, Sept. 20. $10, with the option to place side bets.

Disc golf

Co-ed teams compete at the mud volleyball tournament at the Jesse James Festival. This year’s event is Saturday, Sept. 21.

COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Participants are encouraged to bring their own discs. First-place trophies will be awarded in each division.

Mud volleyball tourney

Eager and brave festivalgoers will make their way to the Jesse James Festival grounds to take part in a sloppy mess in the mud volleyball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 21.

The co-ed tournament begins at 1 p.m. and could run up to four to five hours, according to event organizer Brad Whitford.

“You will get muddy,” he said. “The water is usually filled pretty high, up to the middle of your shins to the knees in some spots.

So it’s difficult to get around.”

Last year the event had approximately 20 teams. They’d like to increase participation this year, Whitford said.

Preregistration runs until Friday, Sept.

20. They will also accept walk-ups, up until noon on the day of the tournament. Team fees are $70. Each team must have at least six members with at least two females and a 12-person maximum.

Captains of each team are required to attend a 12:30 p.m. meeting, where the tournament bracket will be presented.

“We have three pits going at once,” Whitford said. “We have highly-skilled players, some people just doing it for fun.

There are some bleachers for people to watch and it’s in a great spot. Typically it’s a real good time.”

Per usual, the event is also looking for volunteer referees.

No outside beverages are permitted, but Whitford said beer will be for sale.

Participants are encouraged to bring a trash bag and a change of clothes.

September 2019

2019 Jesse James Festival Guide she is trying to be the cheerleader for the event. Making this one as big as possible only sets the festival up for success next year, she added.

“I want this to be a building block,” Spencer said. “Come out, shop local, be Kearney.”

4 days of thrills, rides, games mark carnival Featuring over a dozen rides for all ages, this year’s Jesse James Festival will feature rides for the small kiddos, medium-sized rides for families and larger rides for those more daring.

Included with the festivities will be trailers of carnival food, including funnel cake and COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO corn dogs. There will also be games with Dozens of vendor booths offer an eclectic mix of merchandise in Arts & Crafts Alley. Hair prizes for the taking.

Wristband deals will be available for accessories, jewelry, home decor and more those who want to stay all day. await shoppers.

The carnival is scheduled through the entire second weekend of Jesse James Festival, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday Sept. 19 and 20. Additionally, the In its 49th year, the Jesse James Festival carnival will open at noon on both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. is looking to have the grandest Arts & Crafts Alley in the history of the event.

“It’s a good year to come and check us out,” said organizer Gerri Spencer. “We’ll have a wide variety. As usual, a few won’t be crafts like Boy Scouts, so it’s also an opportunity to come and support your community.”

While each year’s Jesse James Festival Last year’s alley had around 45 vendors has a carnival atmosphere, Lazy L Safari throughout the fair. Spencer said this year Park is hoping to make a portion of this the eclectic shopping scene is looking to year’s festival a bit more exotic. have a few more.

The walk-thru zoo from Cape Girardeau “Last year was phenomenal,” she said. is bringing animal educational shows to this “This year will be even better.” year’ festival from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Encouraging families to shop local, Sept. 21. The show features presentations Spencer said the festival is a great and biological facts on animals presented opportunity to get a jump start on holiday by professional zoo staff. shopping and tuck unique knickknacks “Our educational programs are especially away for the winter months. popular with schools, day cares, Scout Featured will be a “fun, interesting gal” troops, fairs and festivals,” states Lazy L’s who takes vintage photos and turns them website, www.lazylsafari.com. “However, into sassy cards, creative home decor, even professional and civic organizations a wide range of jewelry and handmade can benefit from one of our educational crafts. presentations.”

“This is the only big festival Kearney has During the shows, guests will learn about every year and we are building up to next endangered species and exotic wildlife that year’s,” Spencer said. may include birds, hedgehogs, reptiles and Next year will be the 50th anniversary tortoises. Biological artifacts that may be of Jesse James Festival and Spencer said used in the shows include feathers, antlers,

Arts & Crafts Alley to be biggest ever

NEW: Safari lets festivalgoers get up close with live animals

A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 13

eggs and skulls.

“It’s real exciting to have something like this,” said festival committee representative Julie Hedges. “They also have a little kangaroo you can get pictures with.”

The zoo show also features rides on an animal regularly seen in the Middle East.

“They have a camel that they are doing camel rides with, so you can come out and ride a camel,” said Hedges. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Barnyard Buddies return

Making its first appearance at the Jesse James Festival last year, Nick’s Barnyard Buddies is making a return this September.

Bringing over 20 animals and birds to this year’s event, owner of Nick’s Barnyard Buddies Nick Wittje said the whole family should come out and pet the animals.

“Kids get a kick out of if the rooster crows more than anything” he said. “They also like the goats because they are so friendly.”

Wittje will bring Chinese Meishan pigs, a miniature zebo cow, four-horned Jacob sheep and a variety of goats including Nigerian dwarf goats. He’ll also have desert sheep, chickens and ducks in his petting zoo for all to enjoy.

“Everyone thinks the wrinkly-faced pig is cute,” Wittje said. “And they get a kick out of the four-horned sheep. I get a lot of questions and comments.”

Noting that the four-horned sheep does in fact have four horns, Wittje said it is an actual breed of sheep and not a freak of nature.

In addition to the wide range of barnyard critters, Wittje said he’ll bring a pony.

“His name is Freddy and he offers rides,” SUBMITTED PHOTO he said.

Allowing people to release their inner Any child under 70 pounds is invited to lumberjack, WoodChux Axe Throwing of Liberty will bring its mobile unit to the Jesse ride on Freddy.

“Come out and see the animals,” Wittje James Festival. said, “and have a good time!”

The animals will be on display from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 and again noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.

NEW: Ax-wielding fun debuts at festival

A new entertainment trend sweeping the country that features ax-wielding fun will also be part of this year’s Jesse James Festival. Allowing people to release their inner lumberjack, WoodChux Axe Throwing of Liberty will bring its mobile unit to the festival grounds. The ax-throwing unit features caged-in space that allows participants of all skill levels to throw small axes or hatchets at wooden boards with painted targets.

“The moment you stick your first bullseye, we know that you’ll be hooked,” states WoodChux’s website, woodchuxkc.com.

Festival event organizer Austin Thomas said the feature is going to be this year’s SUBMITTED PHOTO “hot ticket item.”

Nick Wittje said kids really like the goats from “It’s going to be a lot of fun, so tell your Nick’s Barnyard Buddies because the animals friends and come out,” he said. are so friendly.

14 A Special Section of Courier-Tribune

2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

September 2019

Kids fishing tournament reels in family fun There’s a new saying buzzing around that states: “Parents don’t frame pictures of their kids playing video games; kids belong outdoors with fishing poles in their hands.”

For Josh Tipton, the longtime organizer of the Jesse James Festival children’s fishing tournament, that sentiment rings true.

The tournament runs from 9 to 11 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22, at the pond in Jesse James Park. The fishing tournament is free to those from baby to 12 years of age.

Classes are divided by age: 0 to 6 years and 7 to 12. Trophies will be presented for the biggest fish overall with other prizes for the top three for each class. Every child will receive a goodie bag.

“I believe this tournament has been COURIER-TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO going on for about 20 years,” Tipton said.

The children’s fishing tournament Sunday, Sept. 22, at the pond in Jesse James “I have been involved for about 14 years of Park is a catch-and-release event. Bait is it. It’s one of the events that is phenomeprovided to children. nal to watch as the older kids who know

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how to cast lines are doing so or the kids are trying to be patient.”

Tipton said he has watched families grow up fishing. Plus, he also has watched some of the older kids learn a little strategy.

There is a biggest fish prize, but the overall winner is determined by adding the length of all the fish each child has caught. If a child catches four bluegill that are 4 inches long, that would total 16 inches.

“However, we have some older kids who like to fish for the catfish that are in the pond, and they are some long fish,” Tipton said. “Sometimes, though, the child who keeps fishing and reels in the smaller fish, it does add up.”

Tipton said he encourages parents who may not have gone fishing as kids, letting them know that shouldn’t stop them bringing their children to the tournament.

“I have seen moms and dads who don’t

understand fishing, so I encourage them to go with their kids,” he said. “It’s a bonding time for families and friends. It’s about the memories created. It’s getting people outside.”

Registration is onsite the day of the event.

“This is a catch-and-release event,” Tipton said. “That’s what I encourage at any time, but especially for the pond at the park.”

The tournament is a pole-and-line event and one pole per person. A parent may help bait the hook and release the fish, but the child must be the one to reel in the catch.

Worms for bait will be provided. Tipton usually gets around a dozen worms per child.

“There’s still room around the pond with about 70 kids around it,” he said. “It’s a sight to see.”

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2019 Jesse James Festival Guide

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A Special Section of Courier-Tribune 15

High Point Cowboy Church presents cowboy service Jay Bettis, a Cowboys for Christ minister, along with friends and fellow pastors Gary Porter and Joel Brant, take turns preaching at High Point Cowboy Church, a place of worship in Bettis’ horse arena. He has even been known to feed the horses, clean the stalls and then hold a service 30 minutes later.

This year, the Cowboy Worship Service presented by High Point Cowboy Church during the Jesse James Festival will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, near the arena.

Seven years ago, the church moved out of the arena for a Sunday and headed to the Jesse James Festival grounds.

“We offer church service, eat and fellowship,” Bettis said. “We reach out to the carnival people and the cowboys who come in to compete those Sunday afternoons at the festival. Our church service is an outreach there.”

Bettis said the church welcomes all beliefs.

“We have Baptists, Mormons, Catholics, … it doesn’t matter,” he said. “We preach

out of the Bible and offer a sermon. If people are OK with some good ol’ Bible preaching with a message of salvation, come on in.”

Bettis said the High Point Church members are joined by many from the New Direction Church congregation at the Jesse James Festival Sunday service.

“Personally, I go a lot of professional bull rides and I do service for those riders too,” he said. “It’s always a rewarding service when people see that we are very laid back, open and no one feels unwelcome. That’s what it is all about.

It’s been a really rewarding service to hold.”

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