Snow Hill puts our farmers in the spotlight-

 Anonymous said...

How old am I? Well, my family had a combine like the one pictured here.

Fortunately, my grandfather figured how to rig it to be pulled by a tractor instead of a team of mules. It did not have a grain tank to collect the corn, wheat or whatever; instead the grain came down a chute to a divider where the operator stood, holding a burlap bag on one side to be filled. When the bag was full a switch was thrown and the grain passed to the other side of the divider into another bag while the operator manually tied off the first bag and threw it down a tin slide to the ground.

After a full day harvesting it was not unusual to have 400 or 500 full bags of wheat on the ground, and we had to load them onto a wagon to take back to the barn before nightfall so it would not spoil. Of course barley and wheat were harvested in June or July so the temperatures were always a cozy 95 degrees or thereabouts. And to think we only had a bath once per week, usually on Saturday nights!

Your friend,
Slim

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 Blessing of the Combines - Program

Snow Hill's Blessing Of The Combines

 

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08/03/2023 | Snow Hill Hosting 23rd Annual Blessing Of The Combines Saturday | News Ocean City MD (mdcoastdispatch.com)

Blessing of the Combines

 

        (WBOC)

View Charlie Paparella's video story on this past weekend's Blessing of the Combines in Snow Hill.

Travels With Charlie: 22nd Blessing of the Combines – DelmarvaLife

 

The Blessing of the Combines Parade is made up of a lot more than just Combines! Led by the Snow Hill ROTC Color Guard, the parade includes antique tractors, lawn mower clubs, the Delmarva Watermelon Queen, and more!

THE PARADE WILL CLOSE ROUTE 12 FROM SALISBURY INTO SNOWHILL STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 11 AM UNTIL IT TURNS ON TO GREEN STREET. That should be approximately 30 minutes. The alternate route around the parade: Take Nassawngo Road to Porters Crossing and then come back on Rt 113 South.

Blessing Of The Combines is a no go again this year

 (WBOC)

View news story:

2021 Blessing of the Combines Festival Canceled - WBOC TV

Blessing Of The Combines

Please join us!
 

Saturday, August 6th, 2016 for Snow Hill’s 18th Annual Blessing of the Combines celebration in the downtown area on Green Street.  

Festivities begin on Green Street at 11:00 am with live music and street activities. The Parade of Combines sets off down RT 12 to Green Street at 11:15.  A “throttle thrust” will signal our master of ceremonies to begin the program with the presentation of colors by the award-winning Snow Hill High School Junior Marine Corps ROTC.  After recognitions, a keynote speaker and  the Blessing the afternoon’s lineup of selections featuring area musicians will begin.  

Children can visit a variety of animals at the Petting Barnyard; then hop aboard a wagon for the hay ride.  There will be a Children’s Barnyard of activities, and the popular Children’s Tractor Pull as well as  a Scales and Tales presentation from the Pocomoke River State Park and lots of olf fashioned children's activities and games.

There are opportunities for Craft Vendors along Bank Street, and Information Booths along Green Street.  Craft Vendors and area non-profits are encouraged to contact Diana Nolte at 443-944-4402 for space reservations or click here to download an application.

For additional details contact Becky Payne at 443-783-1715 or call or email Diana at 443-944-4402 or blesscombines@aol.com .

Snow Hill's "Arts On the River ~ First Friday"

Blessing of the Combines is Saturday, August 4th

And since this weekend is all about combines dont miss this almost life like handmade combine across the bridge!

The straw combine was designed,  built and painted by the employees of Aurora Agronomy located  in Pocomoke City, Maryland.  They are: Mike Rew, Dean Brittingham and Barry Wise

Be sure to check out the combine after dark! 

"Blessing of the Combines" ~ This Saturday....

The Blessing of the Combines



Collectible t-shirt for 2012  designed by Beth McGrath Cooper

Snow Hill, Maryland

Saturday August 4
Begins at 11:00 am

In preparation local farmers - Byron Hauck, Bill Figgs, Roger Richardson, Buster Powell, David Shockley, Virgil Shockley, George Lee Clayville, Jack Shockley and Lee Holloway - are shining up their combines for the Parade of Combines.

Steve Hales will introduce the keynote speaker, Delegate Mike McDermott.

Hundreds of folks gather for this annual celebration of agriculture, strolling Green Street’s booths, visiting Bank Street’s craft and food vendors, learning from Scales and Tales, checking out antique tractors and garden tractors, and taking a hay ride or a carriage ride.

Young people look forward to pony rides, the Children’s Tractor Pull, and games (and Lollipop) at the Children’s Barnyard on Pearl Street.

Adults await the Pie Eating Contest. All tap a toe to the music of The Country Grass, Rachel Allman, The Waters Family and Danny Jackson.

They head toward the Pocomoke River to admire The Wheels that Heal Car Show and "The Journey", a pontoon cruise boat. They are drawn to the sounds and scents of the Petting Barnyard’s horses, donkeys, sheep, alpaca, rabbits and chickens. They enjoy the hospitality of downtown eateries, shops, galleries and businesses.

These same folks stand silently as the Snow Hill High School Marine Corps ROTC color guard presents the American flag, Rachel Allman sings the national anthem, and Rev. Tina Whaley delivers a brief homily and then blesses the combines.

Collectible T-Shirts, designed this year by area artist Beth McGrath Cooper, are available at Snow Hill Flower and Gift Shop in downtown Snow Hill on Washington Street.

Event hours are from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. The Parade of Combines sets off at 11:15 am and will be on Green Street by 11:30 am.

For details contact Becky Payne at 443-783-1715, or email kfisher44@verizon.net.

~2011 Blessing of the Combines~

Celebrating Worcester County's Agricultural Heritage

13th Annual

BLESSING OF THE COMBINES

What a way to honor the farmers of Worcester County!

My husband has been a volunteer for the past few years and I had never attended- even after living in Worcester County just about all my life.  This event is one that everyone should see.

Some photos of the parade..........

Have you ever power washed a combine?  Well, these farmers do before they enter them into the parade!
According to a Worcester County Farmer, Virgil Shockley, some combines are 14 feet long and can weigh (when loaded) up to 35,000 pounds!

 Combine-Byron Hauck

State's Attorney Beau Oglesby

Combine - Virgil Shockley

Combine- Fred Holloway

Congressman Andy Harris
Combine-Clayville Farms

Senator Jim Mathias
Combine-Roger Richardson Farms

Watson Powell

Combine-Powell Farms

Combine- David Shockley
Indian Town Farms

LOTS of hard work goes into planning for this wonderful day and I don't remember when I have ever seen so many happy people and excited children!

 

Combine- William Figgs

"It's great for the kids, because they see the combines out in the field when driving by and this way they get up close and personal with them."

(Farmer Virgil Shockley)

So many vendors!

Lots of great food available.

Ahhh..... A cooling station.

Warm temperatures with low humidity on this day

so the cooling station wasn't in high demand.

I never knew so many beatiful items could be made

with duct tape!  This young lady and her friends

did a wonderful job with their creations.

Activities for every child and even a petting zoo!

These little furry animals really got the attention from big

and little kids.

Even though the Blessing of the Combines

has celebrated its 13th year the hard work

that goes into making this day a success

is with the helping hands of the many volunteers.

This is just two of the many volunteers.

What a wonderful way to celebrate and  receive a true appreciation for the farmers of Worcester County AND

 all farmers across America.  Even with todays modern equipment their job is not easy.

Just think.......... to enjoy all of this you don't even have to like your vegetables.

~Blessing of the Combines In Snow Hill

The Thirteenth Annual Blessing of the Combines

Saturday August 6

Combines are a familiar sight on the Eastern Shore, moving purposefully and efficiently through fields of grain, corn and soy beans, offloading their harvest into waiting trucks. But seeing a combine from afar is very different from being close enough to touch one. 

 

The Thirteenth Annual Blessing of the Combines, held in Snow Hill on Saturday August 6, will have eight combines parked on Green Street (after a parade down Route 12), thanks to the owners of these multi-thousand dollar machines.  

 

 Children stretch to gently touch the top of a tire; adults stretch to touch the cab. A sense of awe comes after a noisy and impressive “throttle thrust” as the combine drivers power-down their behomoths.

 

Festivities begin at 10:45 with a performance by Pam Ward’s Snow Hill Dance Studio. 

 

Exhibits and displays are set up along Green and Pearl Streets, including a Petting Barnyard, face painting, tie-dye, sand art, a soy bean pit, and a moon bounce, with additional activities for children by Lollipop the Clown. 

 

Hayrides and carriage rides will be available.  

 

The Program Stage will feature talented local young people between 11:00 and 11:30, when the arrival of the Parade of Combines signals the beginning of a brief program, featuring keynote speaker Nelson Brice and Combine Blesser Rev. Rick Edmund. At 12:15 Mike Short Jr. and his musical group will provide an afternoon of entertainment. 

 

Festival food vendors on Bank Street join Harvest Moon, The Emporium, The American Legion and The Palette in offering a wide selection of delicious treats. Further down Bank Street craft vendors join Lost in the Country, Artique’s Gallery by the River, Bishop’s Stock, Adcock Studio Gallery, Pages and Pearls, Snow Hill Flower and Gifts and The American Art Gallery.

 

 The Wheels That Heal Car Club will host a car show along the PocomokeRiver.

 

At 3:00 the festival ends as the combines leave Green Street. 

 

For details contact Becky Payne at 443-783-1715, or email kfisher44@verizon.net .

 

http://www.snowhillmd.com/liveHere/newsArchive.cfm

 

12th Annual Snow Hill Blessing of the Combines

The Worcester County Times says it best I suppose. " Combines are a familiar sight on the Eastern Shore, moving purposefully and efficiently through fields of grain, corn and soybeans. But seeing a combine from afar is very different from being close enough to touch one. "

So here is your chance to see exactly what it is the farmers use on this good old Eastern Shore when they harvest some crops.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE 12th ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE COMBINES

According to the Blessing of the Combines parade chairman, Mike Rew, the parade will take place in Snow Hill, Maryland on Saturday, August 7, 2010 beginning at 11:15a.m.

The Blessing of the combines will be given by the Rev. Sumner Jones.

Eight combines (old and new) will participate in the parade this year. The combines will travel down Route 12 and make their way to Green Street and park so those interested can get a close up view of what a combine looks and sounds like during the THROTTLE THRUST after being parked. They will remain parked on Green Street until 3:00 p.m.

Activities for ALL ages will be ongoing throughout the day from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

At 4:00 the Antique Tractor Pull will be held in the John Walter Smith Park.

Other activities planned for the day are as follows:
(and more)

Children's Tractor pull
Craft Booths
Local Artistis and their work
Hay Rides
Face Painting
Food vendors
Dove Release
Tootsie the Clown
Pie Eating Contest
T-shirts
Petting Barnyard
Scales-n- Tales Presentation by Pocomoke River State Park
Antique Car Show next to the Pocomoke River to benefit Coastal Hospice

The committee for this years events are: Kathy Fisher, Becky Payne and Mike Rew.

Call 443-783-1715 or 410-632-3838 for more information.

Take time to join in the celebration of the agricultural heritage of Snow Hill and honor the farmers.