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75th Annual Soybean Festival starts Sunday in Portageville
For three-quarters of a century, Portageville has celebrated one of the area’s major crops — the soybean. This year’s National Soybean Festival is set for Oct. 2-8.
Clint Klipfel, president of the Portageville Chamber of Commerce, attributes the festival’s 75 years to a balance of tradition and fresh ideas.
“I think that small towns really love something to look forward to every year that really brings the community together,” said Klipfel. “A lot of what we do has remained pretty consistent but we still try to bring in new things to keep people interested in it.”
Once again there will be pageants and parades. Main Street Madness with its many vendors returns as will the Bean Bash with its live entertainment and shrimp boil.
However, this year, the Chamber of Commerce is adding a mullet competition and a car show. Klipfel said he expects the new events to draw a different crowd while providing those who attend every year with something else to take in during the week-long celebration.
Also in choosing this year’s theme of “Oh, the Places You Will Go,” Klipfel said the Chamber thought it would enable the public to be creative and have some fun as they incorporate the theme into their floats and costumes for the parades.
“Dr. Seuss continues to be a favorite for adults and kids alike,” said Klipfel. “We want people to look at all the different Dr. Seuss books and maybe take an idea from one of them but also maybe it could be your favorite place to go and maybe you want to take Dr. Seuss to see it. So you could incorporate your favorite vacation spot or historic spot and bring Dr. Seuss to that.”
Kicking off the activities will be the National Soybean Beauty Pageants at 2 p.m. Sunday on the Grand Stage on Main Street.
Newborns to babies up to 6 months old and babies from 7 to 12 months old will compete in the Baby Soybean Photo Contest. There is a $5 entry fee.
Boys and girls will wear their “Sunday best” as they compete for Mr. and Ms. Soybean Toddler (ages 13-23 months) at 2 p.m., Mr. and Ms. Tiny Soybean (ages 2-3) at 2:30 p.m., Mr. and Ms. Petite Soybean (ages 4-5) at 3 p.m. and Mr. and Ms. Little Soybean (ages 6-8) at 3:30 p.m.
The early registration fee is $20 or $25 on the day of the pageant.
The Miss Soybean Pageants will begin at 4 p.m. and contestants will compete in pageant wear.
Those ages 9-12 will compete for the Young Junior Miss Soybean while those ages 13 to 15 will vie for the title of Junior Miss Soybean. The Miss Soybean contest is open to those ages 16-19.
The entry free for these contests is $30 in advance or $35 the day of the pageants.
Contestants should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their event.
Entry forms are available at Health Connection Chiropractic, Portageville Library, Gator’s Pizza and the Family Resource Center. Also entry forms may be downloaded from the Chamber’s Facebook page or requested by email at info@portagevillechamber.com.
Early registration is recommended with the forms mailed to P.O. Box F, Portageville, MO 63873 or dropped off at Health Connection Chiropractics or Gator’s Pizza prior to Oct. 1.
For more information, contact Tonya at 573-748-0859 or info@portagevillechamber.com
The Seventh Annual Talent Show gets underway at 7 p.m. Monday on the Grand Stage. Klipfel pointed out the changes made last year to offer more prizes will continue with competitors vying for prizes in two ages groups: 12 and under and 13 and older.
Categories for the competitors are either vocal and musical arts or performing arts. Those taking part must provide their own music on a device (android users need to have an adapter).
There is no entry fee with $100 awarded to the first place winner, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.
For more information or to register contact April at 573-379-0052 or email info@portagevillechamber.com.
The Kiddie Parade is Tuesday with line up starting at 6:45 p.m. in the Main Street parking lot. Youngsters will participate for prizes in groups up through age 3, ages 4 and 7 and ages 8-12 in the following categories: pets, walking, wheels and floats of 10 feet or less. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Oct. 3.
The Community Worship Service is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, on the Grand Stage.
Klipfel said the Grand Parade is one of the biggest events of the week, with people coming not just from Portageville but the surrounding towns to take in the bands, floats and more.
Line up is between 6-6:45 p.m. Oct. 6. Numbers are assigned for the line up and distributed the morning of the parade by phone or email. Participants must submit their applications by 5 p.m. Oct. 5 to enter the parade.
Categories include: youth group, marching band, commercial business, political, farm, car/truck, pageant royalty, dance/cheer group, military, motorcycle, non-profit. In addition there will be prizes awarded for floats greater than 10 feet, kiddie floats of 10 feet or less and non-judged/ display/ float.
Oct. 7 is set aside for the public to enjoy the Portageville High School Homecoming game against Malden at 7 p.m. at the school football field.
Oct. 8 is a full day set aside for shopping, eating and socializing.
“To me that is a community building day,” Klipfel said. “People are walking up and down the street and seeing faces they may not see all the time and getting to talk to different vendors, different friends and people in the community.“
Main Street Madness is set from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a variety of vendors offering arts and crafts, food and more along with the local businesses being open.
Also beginning at 9 a.m. will be a car show in the community building parking lot on Main Street. Judges will make their rounds at 1 p.m. and the winners will receive trophies as the show comes to an end at 2 p.m.
There is no entry fee and registration is not required before the event.
For more information call 573-748-0859.
At 10:30 a.m. on the Grand Stage will be the mullet contest, with competitors showing off their hairstyles that are short in the front and sides and long in the back. Open to all ages, there is $2 entry fee for the contest and a $100 cash prize awarded to the individual judged having the best mullet.
Bringing the week’s activities to an end is the Bean Bash in the Community Center parking lot.
From 5-8 p.m. Oct. 8, Joe Joe’s Crawfish will serve up shrimp. Tickets for the dinner are $20 per person and are on sale from members of the Chamber.
From 7 p.m. to midnight, the beer garden will be open. There will be a live performance by Misty and the Ridgeview Players and a corn hole tournament.
“it should be a night of fun, a chance to listen to good music and a way to celebrate a successful week,” said Klipfel.
The success of the Soybean Festival, he added, is due in part to the many sponsors.
“I am amazed every year at how supportive people are. Even in trying times our sponsorships have continued to go up every year,” he said. “It wouldn’t be possible without all the sponsors and all the people participating. As a Chamber we are always very thankful for the way the community gets behind us.”