It all begins this Saturday – the 17th annual Sorghum Festival.

Wednesday, September 26, 2001

It all begins this Saturday – the 17th annual Sorghum Festival.

The festival kicks off with plenty of old fashioned fun at Wilgus 20 miles north of Ironton on Ohio 141, featuring sorghum-making, apple butter making, crafts, food, free entertainment, including a draft horse plowing contest, and much more all day long.

The free event, sponsored by the Lawrence County Draft Horse Association, continues Sunday, with more sorghum for your sweet tooth, and many more events.

Sorghum for sale both days will be $6 per quart and $3.50 per pint.

The festival is held daylight to dark, and is sure to attract lots of visitors, many of whom look forward to it each year, organizers said.

Here’s the schedule of events:

SATURDAY

– 1 p.m.: Draft Horse Plowing Contest. (Classes include team walking, team riding, three-horse walking or riding plow. Premium: $30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5. No entry fee.)

– 3 p.m.: Baking Contests. (Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake or brownies must be delivered by 3 p.m. Saturday. Prizes are $15, 10, 7, 5, all other entries, $3. All baked goods receiving money will become property of draft horse club and will be auctioned.)

– 4 p.m.: Assorted Contest: Largest Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin and Largest Watermelon. Prizes are $5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Winners will not be auctioned.

– 5 p.m.: Largest Pumpkin or Squash Contests, Pumpkin or Squash Decorating Contest (No carving). All squash and pumpkins must be checked in by 5 p.m. Saturday.

– 5 p.m.: All baking contests winner results and auction.

SUNDAY

– 1 p.m.: Draft Horse Halter Classes; No Entry Fee – Wagon Classes. All prizes provided by the draft horse club, $10, 8, 6, 4, 2.

– 5 p.m.: Weighing of Pumpkins. Prizes will be $40, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 to all entries weighing 60 pounds or more; limit one per exhibitor.

– 5 p.m.: Judging of Decorated Pumpkin Contest. Prizes will be $15, 10, 7, 5, 3 to all other entries. All pumpkins and squash receiving prize money will become the property of the draft horse club and will be auctioned.

– 5 p.m.: Draft Horse Colt Raffle Drawing.