HERALD, CA (MPG) - The community of Herald was filled with laughter, the smell of fresh barbecue and rows of creative crafts for sale during the annual Herald Day celebration on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Herald Community Park.

The weekend began with a kickoff dinner Friday, Aug. 1 at Champaign Ranch, 12174 Borden Road. The following morning, festivities began at 9 a.m. with a parade themed “We Like Our Living Country Style.”

Neighbors, local clubs and organizations gathered for a day of small-town camaraderie, with some residents arriving in their four-wheeler ATVs.

The event features staple activities such as the canning and jam competition, a live auction and horseshoe tournament as well as an arts and crafts fair.

While honoring long-held traditions, the event included a cornhole competition for its second year as a newer attraction.

Several booths featured local artists and artisans, many selling their crafts or displaying their work for commissions.

Wayne Hallam, an artist specializing in portraits and landscape paintings, displayed a variety of his work at Herald Day’s arts and crafts fair to highlight his range.

He told The Galt Herald that he has been painting for eight or nine years and has lived in the Herald area for roughly 25 years.

Although he and his wife have attended the event many times as residents, this year marked his first time participating in the fair as a vendor. He noted that one of his paintings had been sold previously at the live auction.

“The first time I came was when I had one of my early paintings done and I had it at the auction,” Hallam said, adding that it was a portrait of legendary country singer Willie Nelson.

The canning and baking competition had five first-place winners. Tammy Conner took top honors in both the canned jam/jelly and fresh salsa categories. Beth Stigelmayer won the canned pickles/relish category and Best of Show for her pickled asparagus. Slypig Farm earned first place in canned salsa.

The Herald Day canning and baking competition had five first-place winners. The categories included best canned jam/jelly, canned pickles/relish, canned and fresh salsa and pickled asparagus. Photo courtesy of Knight Watch Protection Services

Judges were Rebecca Sloan from Pat Hume’s office, longtime resident Debbie Monseth and local realtor Jennifer Stigelmayer. Entries were numbered to keep judging anonymous.

Herald Community Club (HCC) Secretary Shannon Welch said the event was inspired by the idea of a founder’s day to celebrate the Herald community, a place where, she said, “when you go to the store to pick out milk, you see everybody you know.”

Since the first Herald Day took place in 1981, organizers have worked to preserve its traditions. One of them includes naming an honorary community member to lead the parade.

This year’s honoree was Jeri Barnes, a longtime educator at Arcohe Elementary School who recently retired after 25 years of service.

“We wanted to honor her for her service that she’s given to the community and been for being part of the community for so long,” said Welch.

 

Since the first Herald Day took place in 1981, organizers have worked to preserve traditions including the beloved parade. Photo courtesy of Carson’s Coatings

Another long-standing tradition is crowning a Herald Day King and Queen. Arcohe students vote for two of its eighth-graders to be crowned and ride in the parade. Welch said candidates must maintain a qualifying GPA, serve as role models and receive teacher nominations.

This year’s king was Kason Lauchland and the queen was Raiza Lexau.

“The parade, the craft fair, the horseshoe tournament, the canning competition; those have been part of Herald Day my entire life,” said Welch. “I lived here most of my life and looked forward to coming to it as a kid, and now my kids come as well.”

She encouraged attendees to shop at the Herald Store, which has been owned by the Reyes family for 23 years, and is located across from Herald Community Park. The store has been in the area for more than 100 years, established in 1918.

The Reyes family has consistently supported school and community events, Welch said, and the Herald Community Club has relied on the family whenever support is needed.

 

Herald Day on Aug. 2 had several family-fun activities including petting zoo. Photo by Idaly Valencia

“There’s a sense of community here,” she said. “I don’t mind going to the grocery store and seeing 10 people I know. I look forward to that.”

Welch also credited Herald Community Church for helping make Herald Day activities, such as bounce houses and a petting zoo, free for children to enjoy. Those activities had an admission charge when she was younger, she said.

Herald Day provides a time for neighbors to come together and also raises funds for free events such as an Easter egg hunt and an October Movie Night at the Park, activities that Welch said helps keep the community close.

 

Herald Community Club (HCC) Secretary Shannon Welch credited Herald Community Church for helping make activities at Herald Day such as the bounce houses free for children to enjoy. Photo courtesy of Carson’s Coatings