Committee Sharpens Last-Minute Details For 50th Ham Festival

The inner workings and behind-the-scenes efforts for the annual Trigg County Country Ham Festival are nuanced, intricate and require a large number of volunteers — many of them secured in the final moments before the party begins. This year’s 50th celebration is no different. During Friday afternoon’s Festival Committee meeting — the last before liftoff Thursday, October 8, through Sunday, October 11 — Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism Executive Director and Committee Board Chair Beth Sumner walked through the minutia and last-minute details, before more than 20,000 expected guests ascend upon the downtown. + During the Thursday, October 8, Festival Kickoff Breakfast, Sumner confirmed that Ham Festival T-shirts will be available for sale. Karen Stanfield, membership director of Trigg County’s Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that the Cadiz Restaurant is catering the meal. Donations for employees, on leave after the fire, will be accepted. + By noon Thursday, October 8, Cadiz Police Chief Tyler Thomas confirmed that Main Street will be closed to thru traffic, as vendors begin their arrival. Citizens will be contacted by authorities if vehicles remain in the zone from Cadiz Baptist Church to West Cadiz Park. + Barring any last-minute calls or interruptions, Sumner said Fort Campbell support will be present during the festival’s opening moments. At 10 AM Friday, October 9, the 101st Airborne Division Color Guard will do a presentation of colors, and the 101st Airborne Division’s Band will follow with a performance from 10:30 AM until 11:30 AM at the Main Stage near Farmers Market Square. Sumner also noted that the 101st will also have a static display “of some kind” at the festival, and that their presence felt fitting for America’s 250th birthday. + Running from 10 AM until 4 PM Friday and Saturday, October 10-11, contacts Lucy Kyler and Melissa Wallace are still in need of items that would fit in a “50 Years of Ham Fest History” display, which will be near the front of the Cadiz Baptist Church Annex. Several display panels and items have either been collected or created, but “the more the merrier.” + During the 10:30 AM Saturday, October 10, retirement celebration for the long-running ham-and-biscuit oven, Sumner said Broadbents will hand out 500 free ham-and-biscuits to those in attendance. Visitors will get a chance to get “up-close-and-personal” with device, which for years has baked one of the largest such goods in the world. Stakeholders, as well as the Trigg County High School’s popular Career & Technical Center, will likely form a partnership to build a new one in the coming year. + During the 11:30 AM, Saturday, October 10, ham-and-biscuit eating contest, at the Farmers Market Square Main Stage, Sumner said participants this year will receive a take-home “Hancock’s Neighborhood Market” apron for their troubles and efforts. + Trash pickup, Sumner said, is going to be sponsored by Jones Brothers Towing and handled by this year’s Trigg County High School Class of 2027 Project Graduation. Involved students and families will be responsible for multiple trash zones, including West Cadiz Park, which notoriously is overrun with carnival enthusiasts. + A “penny token smasher” will be located at the Information Booth near Cadiz City Hall, with Sumner noting it will have a “Ham Festival” theme. + Spring Street, located behind Farmers Market Square, will be blocked off and closed to the general public during the festival. Sumner said it will instead be used by visiting music performers as a staging, unloading and parking area. + Sumner also said that empty store fronts along Main Street will have “Ham Festival” themes covering the windows Political signs at West Cadiz Park will also have to be moved in order to allow for people to comfortably cross the street.