ARCHAEOLOGIST TO SPEAK AT MT. KEARSARGE INDIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL MEETING

Warner, New Hampshire - Dr. Robert G. Goodby, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, will share his latest research at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum’s Annual Meeting on January 19.  Dr. Goodby’s presentation is titled “Tenant Swamp:   A Late Ice Age Site in Keene, NH”.  The presentation will begin at 12:45pm.  It is free and open to the public.  Dr. Goodby teaches museum studies, archaeology and anthropology courses and conducts archaeological excavations in the Monadnock Region.  He serves as a trustee at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum and also serves on the New Hampshire Commission on Native American Affairs.

The public is invited to arrive at Noon for a potluck lunch and short business meeting where the museum

TIME FOR WARNER FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL

 TIME FOR WARNER FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVALFestival planned for October 6 & 7

 

 

WARNER, NH---September 26, 2012---For generations, leaf lovers have climbed high atop Mt. Kearsarge to admire the magnificent views and breathtaking autumn colors during Columbus Day weekend, and this year will be no different. The vibrant splashes of red, orange, yellow and green which the autumn princess has painted is astounding.
     Nestled at the foot of Mt. Kearsarge in western New Hampshire, lies the charming little town of Warner. Its main street is lined with flower-filled planters and trees showing off their most colorful fall costumes.
     Adding to the ambiance of this quaint village are the friendly folks who live here. This is the weekend they invite everyone from near and far to visit their town to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and crisp, clean autumn air. They celebrate this occasion by holding a festival of fun. The Warner Fall Foliage Festival is scheduled for October 6 and 7, and festival organizers are excited about this year’s offerings.
     “We have several new activities, musicians and entertainers this year, including the

1-Mile Fun Run for kids, an Apple Pie Baking Contest and more Kids Korner activities,” said Sherry Thomas, festival president. “Our Eat Local food tent was a great success last year, so this year we’ll be offering even more locally-grown food.”
     Festival-goers will notice a larger number of young volunteers, as dozens of area students pitch in to help.
     “We expect a great crowd. As always, admission is free, and this year we’ll have free carousel rides all weekend. An entire family can enjoy most of the activities for as little as the $3.00 parking fee. We‘ll even have free shuttle service from parking areas to the festival,” Thomas said.
     Local farmers will offer fresh vegetables and other foods at the Farmers’ Market, while scores of artisans and crafters showcase their finest creations in and around the town hall. Bands and roaming musicians will fill the air with music, and other entertainers will fill the hearts of festival-goers with joy. An ice cream eating contest, sumptuous meals, and other appetizing offerings will fill empty stomachs.
     “The younger children will love the puppet show and bubble party,” Thomas said. “We’ll also have a midway, games and crafts. Saturday after dark, we’ll be telling ghost stories around a fire pit, while the kids toast marshmallows.
     “We hope our friends and neighbors from all around will bring their families to Warner on Columbus Day weekend to enjoy the foliage and the fun,” Thomas said.
     A complete schedule and map are available at area businesses and on the Warner Fall Foliage Festival website: www.wfff.org.

TEENS PITCH IN Warner Festival Rejuvenated

TEENS PITCH INWarner Festival Rejuvenated

 

WARNER, NH––September 24, 2012–– Each year organizers of the Warner Fall Foliage Festival have faced difficulties in recruiting the army of volunteers it needs. After decades of tradition, many long-time volunteers have ‘aged out’ and there hasn’t been enough new blood to fill the needs. Year after year, there has been talk of not having the festival because of this critical shortage.
     Over its 65-year history, the Columbus Day weekend festival has grown to where an estimated 30,000-40,000 people attended last year, enjoying free admission, entertainment and demonstrations of skill. Proceeds from the festival have always been turned back into community projects, organizations and charities.
     “People look forward to the Warner Fall Foliage Festival because there are so many wonderful phases to it, like the oxen and woodsmen competitions, dog agility demonstration, entertainers, rides, farmers market, crafts, and of course, the delicious food,” said Sherry Thomas, festival president.
     “We really need hundreds volunteers to organize and execute the Warner Fall Foliage Festival, but we were down to mere dozens last year, and it looked like we couldn’t survive much longer. Setup and cleanup, before and after the festival are the most critical piece of the puzzle.”
     After last year’s event, the board of directors volunteer outreach branch went into action. They met with schools and organizations, explaining their situation and trying to recruit young volunteers.
     “And they came through,” Thomas said. “This year we have dozens of students from Kearsarge Regional High School scheduled to help out. Already there is enthusiastic support from sports teams, a dance troupe and organizations, such as AmeriCorps*VISTA, Volunteer NH and Invisible Children.”
     The KRHS dance team will be helping with the Kids Korner activities, as well as the children’s 1-Mile Fun Run, where over 70 children have registered.
     “The volunteer outreach plans to include students from Proctor Academy, New England College and Colby-Sawyer College. We’re really excited to have these young people on board,“ Thomas said.
     This is the first year Kearsarge Regional High School has included community service in its graduation requirements, and students are anxious to accumulate their 20 hours.
     Amanda Chase, KRHS School-to-Work Coordinator said about the volunteer requirements, “The students are finding many diverse activities to use as their hours, and already many kids have gone way over the required hours to as much as 100 hours or more. I believe this and the senior project requirement will benefit students as well as the community on many levels.”
      One of the new features at the festival this year will be the Kearsarge Mountain Art Walk, where Kearsarge Regional students will proudly display their artwork.
     “This year’s lineup looks more exciting than ever, and we‘re delighted to have these young people working with us,” Thomas said.
     A complete schedule, map and more information about the Warner Fall Foliage Festival can be found on their website: www.wfff.org.

 

CHILDREN TRAIN STEERS

Jacob Fisher, Madi and Cy Courser awaiting the judges’ decision.

CHILDREN TRAIN STEERS
Show at Festival

 

WARNER, NH–––September 18, 2012––– When Madi Courser of Warner was six years old and her brother Cy was nine, their parents gave them each a matched pair of bull calves. The children belonged to 4-H, and wanted to train and raise the small calves as working steers. It would take a year of dedication and hard work to accomplish this, but Madi and Cy were determined.
     “Our Dad raised steers when he was growing up,” Madi said.
     Now it was their turn. Every day the children fed, watered, groomed and patiently worked with the frisky animals, getting them used to wearing a halter, then teaching them to calmly walk on a lead, or leash. When the calves had that mastered, it was time to hitch them together with a yoke and teach them to work as a team.
     “We had them drag an old tire for a couple of weeks, building their muscles and endurance,” Cy said.
     Meanwhile, their friend, Jacob Fisher, began training and showing pigs at fairs.

     “I hated pigs. They’re slow, they stink, and I had to keep nudging them with a cane. I wanted something faster,” he said. “When I was eight, I got my first pair of steers. I like shorthorns, because they’re fast and snappy.”
     As the first calves grew, the children had to make larger yokes to fit them.

     “They need three different sizes during the first year,” Madi said.
     “We make them out of maple or butternut wood, because those are light-weight and strong. We can’t use pine, because that’s soft wood and will crack when they’re pulling a heavy load,” Cy added.
     After training the calves for six to nine months, the children compete with their animals at eight different fairs, such as Hopkinton, Belknap, Cheshire and Acton, Maine. They also participate in 4-H shows. This year, Cy qualified to compete at Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Massachusetts, a notable honor.
     “Only the eight highest scorers in New Hampshire qualify and they have to be 13 years old or more,” Cy said.
     The animals must not only perform well, but they have to look their best at the fairs in order to score well.

Jacob Fisher backs his steers while Cy Courser readies the hitch.

      “They have to be clean, their hair has to be well trimmed, and we polish their hoofs with black shoe polish,” Madi said.
     “At Stratham Fair, one steer kicked the jar of shoe polish and splashed it all over me, just before show time,” Cy said. “I had on my good clothes and couldn’t get it cleaned off in time, so I had to show them with spotted clothes.”
     All of the children agreed that their main pet peeve is when people ask to feed the steers.

Madi Courser gently coaxes her steers to pull a log scoot.

      “If we say it isn’t time, they often go ahead and feed them hay anyway,” Jacob said, shaking his head. “They perform better if they eat on a regular schedule.”
     By the end of the fair season, the calves, about one year old are now called working steers and weigh 1100-1300 lbs. They are outgrowing their trainers and will soon be too large for the youngsters to handle. When the trained steers reach the age of four, they are called oxen.
     “Ours are pretty well trained when they‘re one year old, so we sell them as a team to someone who wants oxen.” Cy said. “We put the money in the bank, then buy new calves as soon as we can find a matched pair.”
     “I like Brown Swiss,” Madi said. “ They’re gentle and cute with their big ears.” Cy prefers a crossbreed between Swiss and Holstein, and Jacob loves his snappy shorthorns.
     All of the children play sports, but raising and training oxen has taught them responsibility, leadership, and a lot of patience. Madi, now 12, wants to continue raising oxen and hopes to someday become a large animal veterinarian. Jacob, 11, has similar ambitions, and would like to own a beef farm. Cy, 13, wants to continue raising oxen, and dreams of a sports career.
     “I play baseball and basketball. I like them both, but I’d probably choose big-league baseball.”
     At the Warner Fall Foliage Festival on October 5-7, Madi, Cy and Jacob will be demonstrating what their steers have learned in the past year. On Friday night, they will have their teams pull a wooden scoot through an obstacle course. On Saturday, the steers will maneuver a two-wheeled cart into position and drag a load of cement blocks a distance of six feet.
     “At Hopkinton Fair, my team pulled 1400 lbs,” Jacob said. “Madi’s pulled 1400, and Cy’s pulled 1750.”
     Madi and Cy Courser and Jacob Fisher hope many people will come to the Warner Fall Foliage Festival to watch their steers perform.
     The festival will be held October 5, 6 & 7 in downtown Warner. More information can be found on the website: www.wfff.org.

NEW FEATURES AT WARNER FESTIVAL Entertainers, Crafters, Competitions Fill Schedule

Warner, New Hampshire - This year’s Warner Fall Foliage Festival will be held October 5, 6 & 7 in downtown Warner, and will feature many new activities and entertainers. A children’s One Mile Fun Run will take place on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., and all children are invited to participate.
     Also new this year is the Apple Pie Making Contest, sponsored by King Arthur Flour, which will be held on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. If you make a great apple pie, enter into the contest and see if the judges agree. 
     “The Apple Pie Contest is the brainchild of Shandi Allen,” said festival president, Sherry Thomas. “Her cousin works for King Arthur Flour in Norwich (VT), and it is through her that the contest was born.” Top winners will be awarded prizes.
     More local food vendors will be offering their treats while helping to support local farmers.
     New bands this year are Beechwood, Buffalo Plaid, The Bradford Bog People and Tyler Road. Wandering fiddler, Tom Hooker Hanford will play his toe-tapping renditions for everyone‘s enjoyment.
     New children’s entertainers include singer Ben Rudnick & Friends, Roaring Duck Puppets, and still life performer Linda Peck, who will surprise festival goers when she comes to life. Free carousel rides and crafts are sure to bring smiles to little faces.
     In addition to all of this, many entertainers and events from previous years will be returning, such as the 5K road race, lumberjack and oxen competitions, demonstrations, farmers' market and over 70 arts & craft booths featuring the best work of area artisans. 
     “Jenny Courser is chair of the parade committee, and her chosen theme is ‘Entertainment Through the Ages,’” Thomas said. A children’s parade will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. and the Grand Parade will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m.
     “This year the need for volunteers is greater than ever before, and we have a variety of positions available, from ticket sales, parking coordinators, entertainment helpers, to sitting in for crafters who need a break,” said Thomas. “We hope all Warner citizens will join us giving back to our community by volunteering.”
      More information, volunteer and registration forms are available on the festival’s website: www.wfff.org.