Stilwell celebrates 76th Annual Strawberry Festival
By Renee Fite Contributing Writer
Growers say strawberries are sweetest when grown in Adair County , due to the rocky soil and other elements . Whether that ’ s science or the taste test , it ’ s a fact few dispute .
The best opportunity to purchase berries is at the Annual Strawberry Festival , the second weekend in May . Growers will be competing for winning berries on Saturday , May 13 , and they are later auctioned off to the highest bidders .
Bryce Miller with Miller Farms serves as president of the Adair County Strawberry Growers Association .
“ Berries are looking pretty good , starting to grow . I think we ’ ll have a good crop this year if we don ’ t get a late freeze . We ’ ve got seven and a half acres [ at Miller Farms ], 110,000 plants ,” said Miller in early March .
Miller said all growers combined are growing close to 15 acres total of strawberries this year .
Shoppers line up to purchase the flavorful red fruit from local growers at booths located beside the Adair County Courthouse on festival day . Patrons should come early , as they often sell out by 10:30 a . m . or sooner .
There are several new vendors to the Strawberry Festival this year , including a new fry bread company selling Native American comfort food . Other new vendors include those with artisan coffee and Italian soda , western leather handbags and hats , bath and body products including soap , candles , freshies , ribbon shirts , and beadwork .
“ We have a lot of new vendors ,” said Penny Dotson , Kiwanis volunteer and vendor coordinator .
Dotson said that by early March , vendor spots were almost filled .
“ We were a month ahead of last year . We reached 80 vendors about mid-April in 2022 ,” said Dotson .
“ We ’ re getting to be known as an arts and crafts event . By adding Friday , they get more bang for their buck ,” said Kiwanis volunteer Liz Brown .
Kiwanis has been the sponsor of the Strawberry Festival since it began in 1948 .
“ We try to do something new each
Green Country Scene • Volume 4 • Issue 2 11