(Aug. 4, 2016) When the combines roll over the Pocomoke River drawbridge for the 18th time this Saturday one of the original organizers, Becky Payne, said, to her, it’s going to feel like the first time.
Nineteen years ago, “there were four of us sitting around and we decided it would be nice to honor the farmers,” she said. “But the question was — what would we do?”
The group presented the idea to Becky’s father, Gus, who ran the Western Auto location downtown for more than 50 years. He thought it was a good idea, but suggested they check with the farmers.
Payne said she knew most if not all of the local farmers at the time, because they were so often in her father’s store. Their response, at first, wasn’t what the group expected.
“They asked if we’d totally lost our minds,” she said.
But the farmers, Payne said, weren’t wholly against the idea.
“We let them choose the date, and they selected the first Saturday in August, when they were between crops. What they didn’t know is we were going to decorate the town,” she said.
Payne and her compatriots cut about 100 corn stalks and used the state flower, the Black-eyed Susan, to dress up downtown.
“Last year we cut about 1,000 stalks, and we use sunflowers as well as the Black-eyed Susans,” she said.
She remembers two of the farmers’ reactions to seeing the people, and the decorations, as they came over the bridge into town.
“One said he had tears well up in his eyes, and another said all the hairs on his arms stood on end,” she said. “To me, it’s just an old-fashioned way of letting farmers know we appreciate them and recognize their importance to the local economy.”
From there, the event just grew and grew.
This year’s Blessing of the Combines event begins at 11 a.m. downtown, with the combines arriving not long after — they’re scheduled to arrive at 11:15 — and ends when the combines leave town, around 3 p.m.
Speaking at the event will be Mayor Charlie Dorman, County Commissioners Ted Elder and Jim Bunting, as well as Charlie Hoober, of agricultural equipment company Hoober Inc., and Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth Holt.
Rev. Andy Frick of the Whatcoat Methodist Church will deliver the actual blessing.
“It’s a boon to the town and puts Snow Hill on the map for both farming and recreation. It’s one of our biggest things, and I’m just tickled about it,” Dorman said.
State Sen. Jim Mathias and Delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto have all confirmed attendance.
“It showcases how vital agriculture is to us on the Eastern Shore. It’s pride. It’s generational — you see the grandfather driving and the kids following behind him,” Mathias said. “There are throngs of people. Small towns, those are the life of the Eastern Shore. I really love it.”
Otto sees the event as a learning opportunity.
“It’s important to do some education on the expenses and productivity of the agricultural industry. It’s a great opportunity to spotlight the town,” Otto said. “I’ve always been impressed with the Blessing of the Combines and with the crowd that shows up.”
Accompanying the combines are a host of vendors, food stands and activities for the entire family. More than a dozen planned activities, like a petting zoo, bounce house and pony rides, are free of charge for children.
In additional, local nonprofits will be hosting open houses in and around the event area, like the recently moved Lower Shore Land Trust and the University of Maryland Extension of Worcester County.
Nineteen years ago, “there were four of us sitting around and we decided it would be nice to honor the farmers,” she said. “But the question was — what would we do?”
The group presented the idea to Becky’s father, Gus, who ran the Western Auto location downtown for more than 50 years. He thought it was a good idea, but suggested they check with the farmers.
Payne said she knew most if not all of the local farmers at the time, because they were so often in her father’s store. Their response, at first, wasn’t what the group expected.
“They asked if we’d totally lost our minds,” she said.
But the farmers, Payne said, weren’t wholly against the idea.
“We let them choose the date, and they selected the first Saturday in August, when they were between crops. What they didn’t know is we were going to decorate the town,” she said.
Payne and her compatriots cut about 100 corn stalks and used the state flower, the Black-eyed Susan, to dress up downtown.
“Last year we cut about 1,000 stalks, and we use sunflowers as well as the Black-eyed Susans,” she said.
She remembers two of the farmers’ reactions to seeing the people, and the decorations, as they came over the bridge into town.
“One said he had tears well up in his eyes, and another said all the hairs on his arms stood on end,” she said. “To me, it’s just an old-fashioned way of letting farmers know we appreciate them and recognize their importance to the local economy.”
From there, the event just grew and grew.
This year’s Blessing of the Combines event begins at 11 a.m. downtown, with the combines arriving not long after — they’re scheduled to arrive at 11:15 — and ends when the combines leave town, around 3 p.m.
Speaking at the event will be Mayor Charlie Dorman, County Commissioners Ted Elder and Jim Bunting, as well as Charlie Hoober, of agricultural equipment company Hoober Inc., and Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth Holt.
Rev. Andy Frick of the Whatcoat Methodist Church will deliver the actual blessing.
“It’s a boon to the town and puts Snow Hill on the map for both farming and recreation. It’s one of our biggest things, and I’m just tickled about it,” Dorman said.
State Sen. Jim Mathias and Delegates Mary Beth Carozza and Charles Otto have all confirmed attendance.
“It showcases how vital agriculture is to us on the Eastern Shore. It’s pride. It’s generational — you see the grandfather driving and the kids following behind him,” Mathias said. “There are throngs of people. Small towns, those are the life of the Eastern Shore. I really love it.”
Otto sees the event as a learning opportunity.
“It’s important to do some education on the expenses and productivity of the agricultural industry. It’s a great opportunity to spotlight the town,” Otto said. “I’ve always been impressed with the Blessing of the Combines and with the crowd that shows up.”
Accompanying the combines are a host of vendors, food stands and activities for the entire family. More than a dozen planned activities, like a petting zoo, bounce house and pony rides, are free of charge for children.
In additional, local nonprofits will be hosting open houses in and around the event area, like the recently moved Lower Shore Land Trust and the University of Maryland Extension of Worcester County.