January 18, 2008

A new festival is "moo-ving" into downtown Athens this year.

National Moofest, a celebration of the dairy industry, will feature dairy-themed contests and exhibits, as well as an 18-ride carnival. The carnival, which will be located on the old Athens Supply property, will begin on Tuesday, May 27, and operate each evening through the festival, which will take place around the Courthouse Square on Saturday, May 31.

Aside from its entertainment aspects, Dr. John Forgety, the chief executive officer of the Moofest steering committee, told members of the Athens Kiwanis Club that Moofest has an even higher purpose.

"Moofest, at its heart, is about a very special place we live in, with a great deal of blessings, many based on its agrarian background," said Forgety. "That's Athens, Tennessee, and McMinn County, and Moofest is just a way to showcase to the entire nation this very special place."

Forgety said the dairy industry has had a major role in the area's past, present and future, and he hopes the event will increase the public's awareness of that particular industry.

A scoop stacking contest will be held. In the contest, contestants will attempt to stack the most ice cream scoops onto a cone, Forgety said.

A "Milkshake Shake," in which participants hold a milkshake mixer in their hands while dancing, is also planned.

"While the kids are dancing, they're making a milkshake in the process," Forgety said.

Forgety said a dairy recipe contest will also be held, with recipes being placed in a booklet.

"We'd like to encourage recipes that feature buttermilk," said Forgety. "Our own Mayfield's Dairy is one of the foremost producers of buttermilk in the world."

A "Crankin' Contest" will also be held. Forgety said this contest will be for homemade ice cream recipes.

"The winning recipe will be considered for production as a flavor by Mayfield's," Forgety said.

Forgety said Moofest is patterned after festivals such as the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburgh, the Dayton Strawberry Festival, the Tomato Festival in Grainger County, and the Okra Strut in Irmo, S.C. Steering committee members are working with officials from each of these festivals in molding their festival.

Although the plan is to make Moofest a national festival, with advertising targeting audiences across the county, Forgety said it's really a community event.

"We want to return any and all profits to the community, through the United Way, Coordinated Charities, etc.," said Forgety. "And we want to involve all aspects of the community in the effort, from church groups, to civic clubs, to schools, to individuals."

National Moofest is planned for Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. as a kickoff to June Dairy Month. Forgety said he hopes it will become an annual event.