50 years ago this month I was honored to be the ribbon cutter at the annual "Cornbread & Bean festival. Back in the day thousands of people arrived in Oakland on labor day weekend to attend our festival. FREE cornbread and beans were served. I've heard estimates of up to 30,000 people attended. This festival started in 1949 and ended in 1970. My grandparents, Raymond and Leta Hawkins were always there helping out with the planning, serving, set up, clean up just about anything that needed done. They along with many Oakland residents worked tirelessly to put on this fabulous event. It's one of those "remember when" things that people still talk about today.
Ribbon cutters for the 1963 festival Joy Pierson, Brenda Temples and yours truly Kathy Hawkins Pardi.
Ariel view of the grounds. Notice the picture of the high school. It's been torn down. The long white building at the upper left of the picture if the old Ag building and also where they served the beans and cornbread. It is now gone and replaced with the new high school building.
This is my grandpa Hawkins in the front.
Oakland Farm Supply. I have now worked at this business for 34 years.
Cooking the beans. My Grandma Hawkins is in the bottom picture on the left. Next to her is Bill Hanner. The couple on the right is my great aunt and uncle, Gladys and Clifford Hawkins.
Frying chicken. The middle two are my great uncle Clifford and my Grandpa Hawkins.
Oh how the farm machinery has changed through the years. Notice the corn picker on the front of a tractor. Boy how times have changed.
Some of my favorite memories from the festival are the ice cream stand my Grandma always worked at. They sold ice cream bars. For some reason they were always better at the festival. Of course the rides were just "the best". The scramble stands out as one of my favorites. I really wish my children and grand children could enjoy the days where kids could be kids and have no worries. Just run around the festival grounds and everyone looked after you and your parents didn't have to worry about you. Volunteering seems to be a thing of the past. I believe it is one of the best things a person can do. If you have a chance to get involved go sign up and enjoy the ride.
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