| Show IN THESE UNITED STATES Ham Show Is Instrumental In Revamping Rev Georgia Town By E. E L. L KIRKPATRICK P TRICK Features Thirty years amidst hams and eggs is the reward of Otis S. S Oneal Negro extension worker at Fort Valley Ga Annually Oneal guides the farmers around Fort Valley county seat town of in staging a food show at which to home-cured home hams are exhibited This is in addition to more than pieces of other cured c ed meats and dozen eggs packed in fancy cartons These topnotch hams come from hind oth oth- other other other quarters of peanut-fed peanut or er well-nurtured well hogs They are arc the products of thrifty farm families in central Georgia who started out outto outto outto to lick the boll weevil through in in- increased increased increased creased emphasis on diversified farming Festooned around the stage they make a show that smells as good as it looks in fact the aroma permeates the en en- entire entire entire tire school auditorium where the exhibit is held while visitors look and talk and smell Present Program Among main events of Ham and Egg Show week usually held in inthe inthe inthe the spring are a demonstration program on foods for housewives roundtable discussion on ham and egg production written home-written and produced pageant in which The uThe Hog Hen and Mule Speak and joint barbecue and folk music festival Each number draws its share of the 1000 or more visitors but laurels go to the afternoon and evening festival of secular mu mu- music music music sic where players of guitars mouth harps and many improvised instruments attract the attention of regional and national musicians W. W H. H Handy com com- composer composer composer poser of St Louis Blues has be be- become become become come a constant attendant at the show Interspersed between the various major events are quartet and choir selections of old spirituals and cir cir- circular circular cir cir- circular cular folk ballads All are preceded by a curtain riser of Negro folk songs by the school children hu Chula Just uJust From the Coun Coun- Country Country Country try or Old Dinahs Dinah's Dad Boosts Community In fostering this show during the past 30 years Oneal and his co- co coworkers coworkers coworkers workers practically have remade the town and its trade area Theres There's a Community Fair on the downtown streets each fall Fat cattle corn vegetables and fruits have taken on more significance on farms and in gardens through the entire community The idea grew out of Oneal's ef ef- efforts efforts ef- ef efforts forts to improve living conditions among Negro farmers He had found that some families raised plenty of table food others none He had asked some who had to let him bring in those who had not notto notto to Uto see how its it's done Refused by one who didn't want to be bothered with those neigh neigh- neighbors neighbors neighbors bors he hit on the Ham show idea and started in taking three years to Uto get going Since then Fort and many visitors even from outside Georgia have seen heard smelled tasted and felt the Ham show |
