Let's rock 'n' stroll
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PHOTO BY PATRICK MCARDLE |
Toolbox
By PATRICK McARDLE STAFF WRITER - Published: June 6, 2010
BRATTLEBORO – For Heidi Matthews, the Strolling of the Heifers was no walk in the park as she struggled to keep Rose moving in the right direction along the noisy and crowded parade route.
"(Saturday) was very hectic. It's a lot of work, it's stressful, but it pays off in the end," she said.
Matthews, an 11th-grader from Vernon and president of Future Farmers of America in Windham County, said it was worth it because her 1-1/2-year-old Holstein was likely to win the top prize in the judged contest.
The sun shone brightly on the parade and the thousands of people who came to watch or participate, and Orly Munzing, founder and organizer, thinks she knows why.
"We were very lucky. The heifers in heaven really did their job. They're an important part of the committee and they really proved this with the sunshine, so I thank the heifers in heaven," said Munzing, of Dummerston.
This year marks the ninth Strolling of the Heifers, a celebration of agriculture. Munzing called the turnout Saturday "amazing" but said the event always attracts a large number.
At 10 a.m., the actual Strolling of the Heifers began with more than 80 farms, schools, businesses and individuals, including Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., walking down Main Street past the reviewing stand.
The event draws people from throughout Vermont and even neighboring states. Pat Shilo, of Gill, Mass., said she came with her husband, Bill, her son, Ethan, and her in-laws to socialize.
Ethan, 8, said his favorite part was the baby goats "because they were cute."
Brattleboro resident Peter Gould, who has never missed the parade, was back this year with a red clown nose to hit people with an oversize plastic hammer.
"It's so full of heart, this place. The parade is just such a special event because everybody, all these people (are) trying to do good on a sustainable level," Gould said.
Gould was walking Main Street with Brattleboro's three state representatives: his wife, Mollie Burke, Sarah Edwards and Virginia "Gini" Milkey, who called 2010 the parade's best year.
"I represent the district that has most of the farms in Brattleboro — I don't have all of them; Sarah has some in her district – and it's just great to see this kind of a celebration because it's a very important part of our economy and they struggle, especially right now," Milkey said.
Eden Gorst, a very well-spoken 7-year-old from Brattleboro, said it was hard to narrow down her favorite part.
"It was all so wonderful, that's really hard," she said before settling on getting free apples.
Maeve Jackson, a Putney School student who is in 11th grade, walked with Roz, a Holstein about a year old. Jackson said she was representing the Elm Lea Farm at the Putney School, which she described as a progressive boarding school.
Both Jackson and Roz were taking part in their first Strolling of the Heifers.
"I thought it was fantastic. I think it's a really good way to get people involved in agriculture. Farms are struggling right now. It's good. It's just good to get the cows out. All these people see that they love the animals and … they produce wonderful milk," she said.
Jackson said she thought it was "cool" that she got to milk Roz every morning and now had a chance to show her off.
The Strolling of the Heifers will continue through today with events like the Royal Farmer's Feast, made with local produce, from 7 a.m. to noon at the Chelsea Royal Diner on Route 9 in West Brattleboro, and the opening of a hiking trail up Round Mountain at Lilac Ridge Farm in West Brattleboro. For more information, visit www.strollingoftheheifers.com.
patrick.mcarldle@rutlandherald.com
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