The Heritage House Museum of Montgomery County hosted their 10th Annual Sorghum Festival Saturday, October 26, in spite of the threat of rain most of the day.
The festival provides a look into an important part of everyday life from Montgomery County’s past.
The harvesting of sorghum and then cooking the juice into syrup was a necessity of old time life in Montgomery County, as well as other rural areas.
Museum Director Karen Rouse worked hard to provide a host of vendors and exhibits to entertain and educate the visitors to the festival.
Vendors provided everything from jelly to jewelry and the exhibitors demonstrated many aspects of life in Montgomery County from year’s past.
Exhibitors included a homesteading demonstration, rope making and cornmeal grinding.
The Museum was passing out homemade biscuits served with sorghum and sorghum cookies.
They also sponsored a sorghum cooking contest. The husband/wife team of Loretha and Richard Ray won the contest. Nancy Hamilton came in second and Karen Hamilton came in third.
Reports lean to a great crowd despite the gloomy looking skies. David Rouse stated that he parked more cars than the year before.
The museum also dedicated the cook room to Hodge Black. Black was a big part of the festival for many years, serving as the Sorghum Master Chef until recently. Black passed away earlier this year.
Saturday morning a crew of volunteers stripped the sorghum cane grown by Mike Baxter and the juice was cooked as the public watched.
The unique interactive experience is both educational and entertaining.
For more information regarding the museum call (870) 867-4422.
