Annual Salute To Dairy Industry will Feature With Pageant, Parade, Balloons, Ice Cream

The Hopkins County Dairy Festival will return in June, after a 2-year hiatus due to the pandemic, with all of the traditional events of recent years, HCDF Board members announced this week during an informational reception hosted for interested 2022 Dairy Festival contestants and their families. 

This year’s Dairy Festival theme is “Ice Cream for Dairyland,” and, yes, the Texas Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off is scheduled to resume at Shannon Oaks Church this year for all to enjoy. So community members can dust off their ice cream freezers and start practicing their best flavors to enter in the competition this summer. Those not entering can pay a small fee to sample the entries submitted for judging Saturday evening, June 11, 2022.

While many details are still being worked out, Dairy Festival Board members are excited to be able to once again host this salute to the dairy industry, a rich part of the county’s history.

The festival takes a lot of preparation in advance to make sure everything is in place for each of the six major event: Hot Air Balloon Rally & Flights, Dairy Festival Parade, Junior Dairy Show, Milking Contest, Ice Cream Freeze Off and the Queens Coronation Pageant.

The 2021-2022 Dairy Festival Board of Directors includes many dedicated longstanding members. Some like Treasurer Lynda Hager have been involved with Dairy Festival for more than 50 years; Balloon Rally Chairs Dr. David and Pam Black, more than 30 years. Vice President Carolyn McKinney, who recently retired from Southwest Dairy Center, is another who continues to serve.

Some are second generation board members, like Co-Pageant Hospitality Coordinator Gena Prickette, whose mom served on the board and who herself has been involved with it for 25 years. Co-Pageant Hospitality Coordinator Cindy Lancaster and Parade Coordinator David Watson noted they had so much fun when their daughters were involved that they have stayed on, Lancaster at least 27 years and Watson more than 15 years.

Also among the individuals contributing their talents and time to serve this year on the Dairy Festival Board, some returning members and others new members, include: President Robbin Vaughn; Secretary Sheilah Hale; Social Media and Media Correspondence Coordinator Brooke Howard; Queen Rachel Bramlett; Carnival Coordinator Lonnie Fox; David McCaig, who served as president for 2 years and oversees stage set construction; associate members Johanna Hicks and Karin McCormack; and members Jessica McInnis, Triston Pullen, Diana Ramirez, Jackie Russell, Megan Smith, Bryan Vaughn, Missy Caddell, and Sara and Gary Fraze.

This year, Pageant Coordinators Gena Prickette and Cindy Lancaster were excited to be contacted in advance by 12 Hopkins County juniors who are interested in participating in the pageant. The coordinators noted, in addition to being a lot of fun and work, the pageant provides not only an opportunity for the queen to represent Hopkins County at ribbon cuttings and area events, but provides scholarships for winners as well.

Rachel Bramlett has had the distinction of serving as Dairy Festival Queen for 3 years. Even when COVID shut down most of the world in 2020 and resulted in the Dairy Festival being canceled last year, Bramlett continued to represent the dairy industry and Hopkins County at local and area functions — even when it has meant having to miss some of her college classes. In fact, she extended her spring break an extra day for an introductory dinner hosted at Southwest Dairy Center March 21 for the 12 high school juniors interested in participating in this year’s pageant.

Among the potential 2022 Dairy Festival Queen Pageant contestants introduced Monday were Sallee Spraggins, Vanessa Wayne, Allison Peckham, Ashland Hooten, Khira Young, Jocelyn Yanez, Madelyn Sherman, Olivia Worth, Colbie Glenn and Miley Fisher. Unable to attend due to prior commitments, but scheduled to receive contestant packets, are Jayden Holly and Brylee Brock.

The young ladies received packets, schedules and information regarding their duties as pageant contestants, got to know the board members and who to contact for the various activities they will participate in.

The pageant contestants will assist Dr. David and Pam Black at the Hot Air Balloon Rallies, Glow and Flight scheduled June 10 and June 11; decorate a float in the “Ice Cream for Dairyland” theme and participate in the Dairy Fest Parade June 11; the Milking Contest for candidates, along with their parents and hot air balloon pilots; sell a minimum of 100 tickets to offset costs of hosting the festival; and, with talent and dress among the pageant requirements during the pageant.

The queen must also be able to attend local ribbon cuttings and represent the Dairy Festival at area events, she must also store the queen’s float, attend monthly Dairy Festival Board of Directors meetings to give an update of her activities and be involved in next year’s pageant and festival activities.

2022 Dairy Festival Events Schedule

Be sure to make the following dates and times from the following Dairy Festival Schedule:

Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11

• Carnival on the Civic Center Grounds, coordinated by Lonnie Fox;

Friday, June 10

• Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting at noon on Celebration Plaza
• Hot Air Balloon Rally & Glow from 6 to 9 p.m. (weather permitting) at Shannon Oaks Church

Saturday, June 11

• Hot Air Balloon Rally and Flight from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. (weather permitting) at Shannon Oaks Church
• Dairy Festival Parade departs at 10 a.m. from Buford Park, following the traditional parade route down Connally Street
• Junior Dairy Show begins at 10 a.m. in the Civic Center Arena
• Milking Contest at 3 p.m. in the Civic Center Arena for pageant contestants, their parents and balloon pilots
• Texas Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off begins at 5:30 p.m. with judging and serving at Shannon Oaks Church
• Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow begins at 6 p.m. at Shannon Oaks Church

Saturday, June 18

• Coronation Pageant begins at 7 p.m. in SSHS Auditorium, at the Civic Center.