4th Annual Mississippi Gourd Festival
Gourd Banjo–handcrafted and graciously donated by Dr. John Jackson for our 2013 raffle.
September 27, 2013 – A big THANKS to everyone that helped make the festival last weekend a success! Our crowd was a bit lighter. We were dry and cool inside the Ag Complex, but the rain was a deterrent for some folks. A portion of our admission proceeds will be donated to Fisher House at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. (Note: Mississippi Gourd Society donated $250 to the Fisher House. That was 20% of our festival admission receipts plus donations. Thanks to all of you who paid your $2 admission charge and helped us support the Fisher House, “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.)
Check out our Facebook page for some festival pictures. Make sure you look at photos and posts by others. Some of the students have posted pictures of their class gourds. Some are beginning gourdcrafters and they did an excellent job!
Jason Smith and Dr. John Jackson played their handcrafted gourd banjos in their booth. A big THANK YOU to Dr. Jackson for donating one of his banjos for the raffle. It caused quite a stir! Click below to hear Jason playing Sunflower Dance on one of his banjos.
Thank you to each volunteer–Mississippi Gourd Society members, Taylorsville Garden Club members, Bettie Norwood, Smith County Extension Service, and the Smith County Homemaker Clubs. I hope I didn’t leave out any of our great volunteers.
Check out MSGS President Susan Byra’s interview on WDAM Midday, just days before the festival. Way to go, Susan!
WDAM.COM – TV 7 – News, Weather and Sports
We hope you enjoy these photos from the 2013 Mississippi Gourd Festival!
Raffle Items For 2013 Mississippi Gourd Festival
A big THANKS from Mississippi Gourd Society to the artists who graciously donated their handcrafted items for our 2013 raffle and to the ones who purchased tickets! Congratulations to the winners!
Gourd banjo by Dr. John Jackson of Jackson, MS–won by Anna Everett of Hattiesburg, MS.
Pine needle basket by Martha Ertle of Bentonia, MS–won by Susan Byra of Quitman, MS.
Geometrics canteen gourd with lid by Donnie Terry of Shubuta, MS–won by Nancy Glover of Ellisville, MS.
Handpainted green crackled Santa by Georgie Foster of Hattiesburg, MS–won by Brook Goff of Lucedale, MS.
Peanut butter and birdseed-coated birdhouse gourd by Bob and Sherry Briscoe of Giraffes Laff Art and Crafts of Reidsville, NC–won by Clara Mills of Puckett, MS.
