Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs
Meet Dairy Festival Contestants # 4, #5 and #6,  Cameron, Harley and Abbie
Jun13

Meet Dairy Festival Contestants # 4, #5 and #6, Cameron, Harley and Abbie

We’re counting down the days until the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Pageant takes place on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 7 pm onstage in the SSISD Auditorium inside the Civic Center. Let’s meet three more “dairy debutante” contestants! Contestant #4 Cameron Horton has proven her cow milking skills by winning the hands-on contest last weekend. Her ride in a hot air balloon was so exhilarating that she plans to crew...

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Meet Dairy Festival Contestants #1, #2 and #3,  Kaitlyn, Cassidy and Alexis
Jun12

Meet Dairy Festival Contestants #1, #2 and #3, Kaitlyn, Cassidy and Alexis

This week on KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV, we will interview current Queen Jaci Reed and all eight contestants for the 2018 title of Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, in the order that they will appear on Pageant night. All the contestants entered as 17-year-old Juniors in local high schools, and all will be Seniors when school starts this Fall. Each is very excited about the Pageant on Saturday June 16 at 7 pm in the SSISD...

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2018 Bobby McDonald Milking Contest
Jun10

2018 Bobby McDonald Milking Contest

The Annual Bobby McDonald milking contest yielded one of the most productive years to date. The total amount of milk milked for the day was over 160 ounces. Parents milked a total of 99.69 ounces and the contestants milked a combined total of 60.48 ounces. Dairy Festival Queen, Jaci Reed, demonstrated to the new Dairy Festival Queen contestants the best way to milk a cow while the judges set up their table. This year the  contestants...

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Look Up This Weekend for Hot Air Balloons As Part of Dairy Festival!
Jun07

Look Up This Weekend for Hot Air Balloons As Part of Dairy Festival!

David Black jumped aboard the Dairy Festival Board about the same year that hot air ballooning became a permanent feature of the Festival. Since that time, he has flown or crewed for dozens of balloon pilots from all over the United States.  During the early years, David even traveled to popular balloon festivals around the country to find out what made them fun, safe and attractive to pilots. Today, the Invitational balloon event...

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Profile: Lynda Hager and Patricia Chase… Veteran Volunteers for Dairy Festival
Jun06

Profile: Lynda Hager and Patricia Chase… Veteran Volunteers for Dairy Festival

If you have ever attended a Dairy Festival event in Hopkins County, Texas, you were probably impressed by large-scale productions and mass participation by the county’s population, for these are among it’s hallmarks. In 2018, the Dairy Festival tradition is 59 years old, originally created to celebrate the dairy industry’s local economic impact. The 25-member Board of Directors works year-round to produce the annual...

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Profile: Johanna Hicks…Her Life Makes a “Dairy” Good Story!
May23

Profile: Johanna Hicks…Her Life Makes a “Dairy” Good Story!

Everyone in Hopkins County knows Johanna Hicks, Hopkins County Extension agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office which she shares locally with fellow agent Mario Villarino and office manager Barbara Sanders. Over the years, she has become a local food celebrity with her many Dairy Foods contests, cooking and tasting events. As a Dairy Festival board member, she helped create this year’s exciting “Whipped...

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2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Schedule of Events…Make Time for Fun!
May21

2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Schedule of Events…Make Time for Fun!

Hello everyone! The Festival Board of Directors doesn’t want you to miss anything during the 2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival, so here’s the schedule. Be sure and purchase your Pageant tickets from any of the eight contestants. This year’s theme is “Party Til the Cows Come Home”. See you there! Monday May 21st  Dairy Festival Queen’s Dinner at The Alcove at 6:00. Friday June 8th.  at  12:00 noon is the...

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Dairy Festival Udderances Announces Preparations for June: Hot Air Balloons, Parade, Queen Candidates
Mar15

Dairy Festival Udderances Announces Preparations for June: Hot Air Balloons, Parade, Queen Candidates

The Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors is beginning preparations for the 2018 Dairy Festival!  We have already received lots of inquiries from interested participants – for the parade, the balloons, and of course, from candidates for the Coronation Pageant.    The Festival dates are June 8 – June 16.  This year’s theme is: “Party ‘Til The Cows Come Home!”.  Our Board President, Carolyn McKinney, will host the opening...

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Bobby McDonald Milking Contest
Jun10

Bobby McDonald Milking Contest

For the first time, the Milking Contest was re-named in honor of Bobby McDonald. 2016 Dairy Festival Queen Sadie Evans was there to give advice and encourage the  2017 Dairy Festival contestants. Judges included Bobby McDonald’s Mother and Sister. Here were the winners: Contestants: 1st place: Peyton Dietze with 3.16 lbs 2nd place: Marissa Greenway with 1.49 lbs 3rd place: Jaci Reed with 1.07 lbs Contestant Parents: 1st place:...

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Dairy Festival Opening Ceremony
Jun09

Dairy Festival Opening Ceremony

On Friday June 9th at 12:00 noon, Dairy Festival Board members held the opening ceremony at Celebration Plaza.  2016 Dairy Festival Queen, Sadie Evans,  was in attendance, with the 2017 Dairy Festival Contestants. Carolyn McKinney has served on the Dairy Festival Board for 11 years, and commented “It’s the 59th Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Was have 7 girls vying for the title of queen. The opening ceremony kicks...

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