Harvest time celebrations roll in Pilot Grove

PILOT GROVE — The City of Pilot Grove offered visitors a little bit of everything Saturday during the 5th annual Pilot Grove Harvest Festival. Children played games and took pony rides as moms and dads enjoyed a car show and shopping.

Kirsten Limbach, 8, of New Franklin, enjoyed playing with bunnies and looking at the animals in the kids area.

“I was petting the animals,” Kirsten said.

Her favorite was the goose.

“It was really fluffy and feathery,” Kirsten said.

Car enthusiasts gathered to look at new and antique vehicles while others enjoyed the craft booths.
Kim Moseley, of California, Mo., sold her 100 percent soy candles at the festival.

“I started it as a Christmas idea and it exploded from there,” Moseley said.

She has been making the eco-friendly candles for about four years.

“It’s fun and it’s relaxing,” Moseley said.

Other vendors sold quilts, jewelry, cookbooks and accessories.

Carla Wirths and her husband, Darrell, of Lee’s Summit, attracted many people to their boot purses.

“They’re very unique,” Carla said.

The purses are made from used cowboy boots. Darrell uses a leather sewing machine to put the purses and bags together.

Carla said it is a hobby for her husband, but the bags have been very popular.

“It gets bigger and bigger,” Carla said.

Brenda Bader, chairman of the festival, said each year new things are added to the day. This year featured a baby contest, pie baking contest, pedal pull, tour of the old jail and a karaoke contest.

“My intention was to bring people to a small town like Pilot Grove so they are familiar with a smaller community,” Bader said.

Bader said the event is a good place for people to sell their wares and enjoy family activities.

“It’s just kind of a fun activity that’s not very expensive,” Bader said.

For Alice Wirths, of Pilot Grove, the event is a way to spend time with her family and catch up with community members.

“I see a lot of people that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Wirths said.

Neil Celey, of Boonville, visited the festival for the first time. He heard about it through a friend and was hunting for good food.

“I think it’s nice and a lot of work goes into something like this,” Celey said.

The 2010 Pilot Grove Harvest Festival will be held Oct. 16. Some new events may include a dinner and Halloween dance.

To see a video of the Pilot Grove Harvest Festival visit sedaliademocrat.com