By Andrew W. Griffin

Red Dirt Report, editor

Posted: July 7, 2012

reddirtreporter@gmail.com

McLOUD, Okla. – While the midday sun kept things just below the level of “baking,” it was still pretty darn hot on in McLoud’s Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday as people enjoyed snacks, played games, rode carnival rides of simply enjoy a slice of blackberry cobbler as part of the 2012 McLoud Blackberry Festival.

Donna Wynn, with the McLoud Chamber of Commerce, was serving blackberry cobbler and selling jars of blackberry jam. She said that they had already sold out of 400 quarts of blackberries, compared to 300 quarts they sold last year.

“A good amount,” she said with a smile.

This was Red Dirt Report’s first time in McLoud proper. Parking was a bit of a mess, there near the park. Police were evident but they were driving around on ATV-type vehicles. And trying to find the “blackberries” that were allegedly all the rage for the “Blackberry Festival” was far more difficult than necessary. We later discovered that the blackberries come from Harrah and that blackberry farming is no long the “agricultural strength” of McLoud, as it was when the festival got going back in the 1940’s.

Quilter Dottie Llama, of Jones, was on hand selling her quilts while her husband (who wasn’t there when we talked to her) was selling interesting yard art.

Llama said that despite the hot weather, Friday night had a pretty decent crowd. “It’s been going pretty good,” she said.

And while Dottie Llama was pretty friendly, the folks running the Okie Old Time Root Beer stand were oddly cagey. We spoke with a man who refused to give us his name for reasons that weren’t entirely clear. However, the woman running the stand with him, Michelle Sweigart, was fairly friendly. We were told the root beer operation was going on seven years and was a “family deal.” Our research shows us they are based in Ponca City.

Far friendlier and forthcoming were Ruth Knipe and Dorothy White of Chelsea, Okla. They were at the Blackberry Festival working a booth that was selling wine produced by Oak Hills Winery and Vineyards in Rogers County.

“We have great wines,” Knipe said. “We’re always happy to have groups come in and see what they do at the winery.” Among the wines they were selling was a special blackberry wine.

In an adjacent field was a car show. The highlight was a cool 1955 Volkswagen Microbus.

There was tasty food – fried green tomatoes and bratwursts with onions and sauerkraut, for instance – and drinks as well.

And at one point, Red Dirt Report witnessed a turtle race. Fun was had by all.

Copyright 2012 Red Dirt Report