Lindale Students attended the Fall Country Fest hosted by the Lindale Chamber on Saturday. The festival included community booths and vendors, food, and a race.
“Country Fest is the single largest day event for the community,” Shelbie Glover, Lindale Chamber of Commerce member and coordinator for the Country Fest, said. “It is a chance for family friendly entertainment with most of the activities being free for kids.”
The Harvest Hustle race was separated between community members of different ages, and the high school ages had their section. The male ages 13-19 first place winner is sophomore Seth Leevey, second place winner is Junior Deacon Fair, and third place winner is Freshman Tristan Merchant. For females, the first place winner is Junior Abigail Kelley, second place winner is sophomore Lorea Poza, and third place winner is freshman Saige Myers.
“I think the Harvest Hustle had a great turnout,” 5k coordinator Danyna Crenshaw said. “It’s just a great opportunity for people to come out with their families, pets, and children and enjoy the community.”
At the festival, Smith County constables had a booth set up to educate the community about their officers and responsibilities. Junior Isabell Petty, whose father is Smith county constable Kevin Petty, was working at the booth as a volunteer.
“I love working with the Smith Country officers,” Petty said. “If they have anything that they have to do half the time I get dragged to it anyway, so it’s just easy to love working with them.”
Junior Josiah Sanchez works with an Airbnb company owned by Hason Hartong set up in the Garden Valley area that had a booth at the festival. The booth had games for children and educational videos for people who would be interested in booking the Airbnbs.
“I think this booth is a wonderful opportunity,” Sanchez said. “It allows kids to have a good time playing a game and adults have the chance to learn about the Airbnbs and win a free stay.”
There was also a booth run by NHS that provided face painting and colorful hair extensions for young girls. Multiple students from both NHS and the student body volunteered to paint children’s faces and place hair extensions.
“The booth is really fun and it’s great to be able to see little kids having fun,” sophomore Grace Koustovardis said. “It’s also fun to be able to talk with so many people.”
Junior Macy Hodde also had a booth set up where she sold hot sauce made from a family recipe. The recipe was her late grandmother’s, Cindy Hodde. After her passing in 2012 the family turned the recipe into a family business.
“I think this opportunity is great, and I love getting to share the recipe with people,” Hodde said. “I’m so excited to see the business grow and I love the recipe so much, so I think sharing it with everybody is great.”
