Cattlemen celebrate 70th anniversary with festival

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Association will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 29 with the First Annual Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Festival at the Baldwin County Coliseum and Fairgrounds, 19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale.

The event will include activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. including cow patty bingo, a petting zoo, Lil Britches Roping, face painting, horse rides, corn hole and bounce house.

Jon, the Balloon Guy will also be on hand for a limited time with all-day displays from the South Alabama Antique Tractor Club, Gear Jammers Car Club and the English Car Club.

All program activities for kids and adults are for special needs, as well, and they include ages for categories which are: the stick horse race, musical chairs, boot scramble, princess contest, and the egg and spoon competition.

The event will kick off at 8:45 a.m. with music by cattleman Hunter Bemis, followed by a kick-off at 9 a.m. with announcer Hunter Bemis, welcome by Cattlemen’s Association President Eugene Fernandes, flag presentation, National Anthem and opening prayer.

Entertainment begins at 9:30 a.m. with Folklorico dancing, followed by a stick horse race at 10 a.m. for children 10 and under and musical chairs for children and adults in three divisions, 10 and under, 11 to 17 and 18 and up.

“People’s Choice” chili judging begins at 10:30. There will also be a boot scramble for children and adults, 10 and under, 11 to 17 and 18 and up.

Dog herding begins at 11 a.m., followed by a princess contest for ages 18 and under at 11:30 with Wylie Pete and Wylie’s Baldwin County songs at noon.

Egg and spoon races and egg toss will begin at 12:30 for 10 and under, 11 to 17 and 18 and up, with a cowboy hat relay and music dance off available in the three age groups beginning at 1 p.m.

Afternoon dog herding begins at 1:30 p.m., chili winners will be announced at 2 p.m. with Folklorico dancing at 2:15. The event will wrap up with a farewell from announcer Jerry Byrd at 3 p.m.

Later that evening, the Baldwin County Cattlemen’s and Cattlewomen’s associations will hold their annual meeting at the Baldwin County Coliseum.

The Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Association was organized Jan. 30, 1950 under the auspices of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the National Livestock and Meat Board.

On May 18, 1992, the NLMB, through a promotional arm, “The Beef Industry Council,” launched the “Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner,” campaign, which is used by Cattlemen’s Associations nationwide to promote the beef industry.

In addition to the election of officers, the event will include a silent auction, prize drawings and a cake auction.

For more information visit the Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Festival page on Facebook, email baldwincobeef@yahoo.com, call or text 858-663-1379 or Hank Parnell at 251-979-6078 for more information on events.