Fowler marks
87th
Missouri Day celebration
2007
The
chief event for the first
Missouri Day, held on June 26,
1920, was a tug of war that was
held at the Arkansas River.
Missouri
Day 2007 marks the 87th birthday
of the "big one-day event" as it
was called long ago. The very
first Missouri Day celebration
was held on Saturday, June 26,
1920.
According to the article
published in the "Fowler
Tribune" on June 25, the main
objective of this celebration
was to gather all the former
residents of the "Show Me"
state, as well as visiting
residents, for a social good
time. Former Missourians were
asked to participate in a basket
dinner, however, this event was
not limited to just Missourians.
Many sports events followed the
picnic including the chief event
of a big tug of war. The tug of
war contest was held at the
Arkansas River and had former
Missourians from the north of
the Missouri River on one side
of the rope while those who
resided on the south side pulled
on the other end.
In 1933, Fowler crowned its
first Missouri Day queen. Young
ladies between the ages of 15
and 25 campaigned for the crown.
Miss Maurine Woods received the
most votes and was crowned the
first-ever Missouri Day queen.
Her court of honor consisted of
Pauline Moffitt, Mary Boone,
Lilly Dell Harriman, Helen
Strange, Evadne Purinton, Alice
Baylor and Velma Mae Allison.
The Missouri Day celebration was
traditionally held on the second
Wednesday in August. In 1974,
the Missouri Day Committee
decided to moved the celebration
to Saturday, July 13. Missouri
Day from then on was held on the
third Saturday in July. Each
year, the one day event became
increasingly bigger and better
than the year before, bringing
several thousand visitors to the
area. This year, the event was
moved to the second Saturday in
July to accommodate the
carnival.
Today, Missouri Day is still the best event Fowler has
attempted, with many traditions still remaining and others being
formed.
LaJunta Tribune Democrat - Fowler
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Missouri Day, 1928, 80 years ago
(This story appeared in the Fowler Tribune
2008, courtesy of Olive M. Rogge, the Fowler Historical Society
Reporter. It so perfectly explains the origin of Missouri Day
in Fowler).
Missouri Picnic will be celebrated in Fowler Wednesday of next
week.
Committee arrangements that have been made indicate a splendid
amusement program with good music by a Pueblo band.
The "Missourians' Picnic" is the outstanding event each year in
Fowler, as far as social and amusement events are concerned.
The Missourians have such a good time at their picnic that they
furnish amusement to all others. It's fun to watch some
of the old-timers shamble over to the "scratching post" and use it.
Its fun to hear 'em in a hog calling contest. It's fun for
everybody just to watch the Missourians eat. If there is any
one thing a Missourian excels in, it is shoveling grub through the
hole in the face that nature left there for that purpose.
A thousand Missourians gathered together in one park, swapping
yarns, greeting each other with a friendly whack on the back, or
trying to swap mules, pitchforks or pocket knives, is a sight to
behold. Starting with a small beginning ten years ago,
the Missourians' Picnic has grown until today everybody attends,
regardless of whether they are from Missouri or not. They come
from far and near.
The second Wednesday in August has been set aside as the time for
holding the annual event, and next Wednesday is the day. City
Park, Fowler, is the place. Nobody is barred - an invitation
is extended to everybody to attend. Its the only day in the
year when everybody is expected to lay aside his troubles and have a
good time.
The greased pig catching contest and the spitting contest is open
to Missourians only. Bring your umbrella.
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