Invitation Oxford - October 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURES

26 Batty for Halloween

An Oxford family delights in the Halloween decor that bedecks their North Lamar home, inside and out.

32 Southern Layed

A Tupelo couple creates an organic chicken farm from what started as a hobby-sized affinity for feathered friends.

39 Making a Statement

Local rescue pets and their owners dress for the season and share their adoption stories.

ON THE COVER

Meet the winners of our annual Pet Cover Contest: Titan in Oxford, and Olenna in northeast Mississippi. Read all about them at invitationmag.com. MODEL

LETTER from the PUBLISHER

It’s said that dogs are people’s best friends. Some would argue cats can be, and then there’s rabbits and horses and more. My daughter, who is 12, would say for sure her best friend is a horse.

But no matter what kind of pet we have, these animals are family. We bond with them, we love them, we celebrate life events with them, and we grieve when they die. And because they are special, we also invest money in them. Forbes Magazine reported that in 2022, Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets, up 10.68% from 2021 ($123.6 billion).

In this issue, we celebrate those furry creatures who warm our hearts day in and day out. On page 39 you will meet a menagerie of dogs, cats, bunnies and more and read the stories about how they found

homes with the special people who love them deeply.

We’ve also included some great fashion accessories and trends throughout this issue to check out for the fall of 2023.

We hope you enjoy this magazine, and we will see you back here next month.

Visit invitationmag.com/digital-details to read all about one of Oxford’s most anticipated annual events, Harvest Supper. The dinner under the stars is an annual fundraiser for the University of Mississippi Museum, Rowan Oak and the WaltonYoung House. This year’s event on Oct. 26 includes watercolorist Wyatt Waters, who will be on hand to paint a vignette from the evening that will be available for purchase.

Let’s Hear it for the Pets

Thank you to all of the people and pets who participated in this month’s cover contest! We received nearly 1,000 total submissions. Follow us on social media to read more about the winners featured on our covers and to see the other adorable semifinalists.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine!

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

Harvest Supper

TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY

PUBLISHER

Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Emily Welly

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Leslie Criss

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Mary Moreton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sarah Godwin

Eugene Stockstill

COPY EDITOR

Ashley Arthur

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Mary Kelley Zeleskey

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER

Hollie Hilliard

DISTRIBUTION

Brian Hilliard

MAIN OFFICE

662-234-4008

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Holly Vollor

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Joe Worthem

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lisa Roberts

Carleigh Harbin

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Alise M. Emerson

Amber Lancaster

Leigh Lowery

Lynn McElreath

Moni Simpson

Whitney Worsham

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Paul Gandy

Markka Prichard

ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

Party on the Green

OCTOBER 5

2nd Chance MS hosts a fall fundraiser to support its mission of promoting adult education and work skills training. Tickets, $75, available online. 5:30-8:30 p.m., The Green at Harrison’s 1810. 2ndchancems.org

Conference on the Front Porch

OCTOBER 5-6

This two-day gathering celebrates the Southern tradition of the front porch with important speakers, dinners, music, literature, bonfires and stories. Register online. The Mill at Plein Air. conferenceonthefrontporch.com

“Cowboy”

OCTOBER 10

This stage play tells the story of Bass Reeves, a freed slave who protected the Wild West as the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshal. Many believe Reeves inspired the character of the Lone Ranger. Tickets, $25-$30. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org

OCTOBER 2023

COMING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY OXFORD

Oxford Blues Festival

OCTOBER 12-14

Celebrate Mississippi music and the blues. The weekend begins with educational panels Thursday at the Ole Miss Blues Archives followed by live blues music Friday and Saturday at the Lafayette County Arena. Tickets, $20-$40, available online. VIP Admission also available. oxfordbluesfest.com

Water Valley Art Crawl

OCTOBER 14

Celebrate Water Valley’s creativity with mingling and entertainment on Main Street. 6:30-8:30 p.m., plus a 5:30 p.m. kickoff event at Dancing Bear Sanctuary and 8:30 p.m. post-host event at Magnolia Coffee Co.

instagram.com/watervalleymainstreet

Tailgate for Palmer

OCTOBER 21

This eighth annual fundraiser for Palmer Home for Children is presented in partnership with SMP Southeast and Edmondson Farms. The ultimate watch party features Ole Miss vs. Auburn on the big screen inside the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center. Tickets and sponsorships available online. Includes food and beverage; 21 and up only. palmerhome.org/events

Oxford Witches Ride

OCTOBER 23

A bike parade through Oxford features witches of all kinds to benefit The Pantry. Participation in the parade is open to women ages 18 and up, but all are invited to come support. Buy tickets, $50, online. oxfordwitchesride.ticketspice.com/oxfordwitches-ride

NORTHEAST

Mini Masters

OCTOBER 19

The University of Mississippi Museum offers monthly drop-in art classes for toddlers and their parents to explore paints, prints, sculpture and more. October’s theme is “Art Touch Down.” $5 per family. 3:30-4:30 p.m., UM Museum. museum.olemiss.edu

LeBonheur Pumpkin Run

OCTOBER 14

A 5K race and kids fun run for ages 10 and under benefits Le Bonheur. Wear your costumes. Fun run 7:30 a.m.; 5K 8 a.m. 118 E. Main St., Tupelo. pumpkinrun.org

Celebration Village

OCTOBER 18-21

Sanctuary Hospice House holds its biggest annual fundraiser, a holiday market that offers holiday shopping, food, music and fellowship. Ticket information and complete schedule available online. Tupelo Furniture Market.

sanctuaryhospice.org

Fall Garden Day

OCTOBER 21

Lee County Master Gardeners hosts a fall event featuring a scarecrow trail, speakers, garden tours and more. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, 5421 Hwy. 145, Verona. facebook.com/LeeCountyMasterGardeners

Tupelo Ale Trail

OCTOBER 27

A progressive craft beer tasting with participating downtown Tupelo retailers. Tickets include a sampling glass and map. 5:30-9 p.m., downtown Tupelo. tupelomainstreet.com

Hope Continues 5K

OCTOBER 28

A 5K race and 1-mile fun run to raise funds to provide screening and support for individuals affected by breast cancer. All proceeds stay in northeast Mississippi. New course starts and ends in downtown Tupelo. Register online, $15-$25. 7:30 a.m. facebook.com/HopeContinues

PUMPKIN Cornbread

RECIPES BY SARAH GODWIN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Seasonal BUTTER recipes

Follow us on social media for our seasonal compound butter recipes!

Cornbread can be served any time of year, but adding everyone’s favorite fall flavor — pumpkin, of course! — makes it an especially interesting side this season. Remember, melting butter in a hot cast-iron skillet before adding the cornbread batter is key to perfecting the texture of this Southern delicacy.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup fine ground yellow cornmeal (do not use cornmeal mix)

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, add flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Stir well to combine.

In a separate microwave-safe bowl, microwave ¼ cup butter until melted, about 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, and whisk to combine. Add pumpkin, eggs, sour cream and milk, and whisk to combine.

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons salted butter, divided ½ cup packed light brown sugar

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin

2 large eggs

½ cup sour cream

¼ cup whole milk

Add pumpkin mixture to dry ingredients, and fold together until well combined, 2 to 3 minutes.

In a large cast-iron skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high until it bubbles. Pour batter into hot skillet with butter. Cook for 2 minutes, then transfer to oven and bake until set in center, about 25 to 30 minutes.

A TASTY AND SEASONAL TWIST ON TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN CORNBREAD.

PUMPKIN cornbread

Batty for Halloween

WRITTEN BY EUGENE STOCKSTILL PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

A few years ago, a rather unnerving thing happened while Ann Chancellor Roberson of Oxford was preparing for Halloween.

The physician, wife of a physician and mother of three had gotten up around 4 one morning to get things all set for the holiday. There she was in a black T-shirt and black leggings, hanging in darkness from a banister so she could put giant spiders on the outside of the house, when she noticed some unexpected company down the street.

“Some of the city police pulled up,” she said. “They were curious why this person was hanging from the banister.”

They all had a good laugh about it before the officers left Roberson to finish her important work for the morning, which she’d begun after realizing she was behind schedule for Halloween that particular year.

Normally, the house is decorated by the first of October, “just to enjoy it for the whole month,” she said. The process takes three to four hours, and the decorations are

AN OXFORD FAMILY DELIGHTS IN THE HALLOWEEN DECOR THAT BEDECKS THEIR NORTH LAMAR HOME, INSIDE AND OUT.

a little different every year. “That’s the fun part, adding new things,” Roberson said. “I decorate the inside of the house, as well.”

Roberson and her family, who moved to Oxford several years ago, live in a traditional three-story Southern house on North Lamar. The residence, painted white with black trim, has a wrap-around porch and sits on property that once belonged to the people who lived next door.

“I’ve always been told the man who designed Central Park (in New York City) designed the house next door,” she said. “That may be a rumor.”

The Robersons tore down the old house on the site and built a new one in less than two years. Once settled in the house, they also settled into the neighborhood tradition of going all out at the spooky end of October.

“Oxford, in general, really embraces Halloween,” Roberson said. “All of the houses on North Lamar have fun. The first year, we went wild, and my kids loved it.”

This year, if you traipse through the Roberson yard, expect huge spider webs, 8-foot arachnids and maybe a zombie hiding around a corner. It’s not the only house nearby that goes batty for Halloween.

“All these houses do a phenomenal job,” she said, recalling a South Lamar home that became “almost a haunted house experience” one year, complete with smoke, ghosts and other ghoulish things.

“I loved Halloween as a kid and dressing up, pretending you’re something that you’re not,” said Roberson, who dressed up as Elvira last year. Now, Halloween turns into a family-wide event that includes her daughters, ages 10, 11 and 15.

When the girls were younger, “they enjoyed it so much, (decorating) was something I tried to do early in the morning,” Roberson said. “Now that they’ve gotten older, they’ve transitioned into helpers.”

On Oct. 31, whole families go trick-ortreating up and down the street. Roberson has been known to put on a pot of chili for visitors. Every year, she said, she goes through 3,000 to 5,000 pieces of candy.

“It brings a lot of friends and families together,” she said. “It really is a very magical experience.”

Southern Layed

A TUPELO COUPLE CREATES AN ORGANIC CHICKEN FARM FROM WHAT STARTED AS A HOBBY-SIZED AFFINITY FOR FEATHERED FRIENDS.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Alyssa and Steven Estes rode the bus together when they attended Mooreville junior high and high school. They were acquaintances, but their lives took them in different directions. But in 2020, they reconnected, started dating, and then married two years ago.

She’s a sales manager covering a multistate area for Waste Management; he once drove a truck for the same company, and he has spent time doing construction work in the Bahamas. But talking with one or both of the Esteses quickly leads to the discovery of Steven’s passion.

“He has always loved chickens,” said his wife.

It’s true. While still living in their Mooreville home, Steven dabbled with a small number of chickens as a hobby. But as hobbies sometimes do, this one morphed into something more serious.

In 2021, the couple purchased 11 acres of farmland in Tupelo, just off County Road 1001. They sold their house in Mooreville and moved a recreational vehicle to the property to serve as home and office while they build their new home on the farm. Today, Steven is a full-time farmer at the family’s Southern Layed Organic Farming.

It’s not just the two of them. Southern Layed is lovingly made up of their blended family — 14-year-old Braxtn Harris, 12-year-old Bella Harris, 11-year-old Emma Estes and 7-year-old Elaine Estes — children from previous marriages. All six are represented on the farm’s logo, designed by Steven, which features four baby chicks bookended by a hen and a rooster.

It takes only a moment for any conversation with the Esteses to turn to

chickens. Alyssa’s words convey great pride in her husband’s love of what he does each day. Steven peppers his farm talk with gratitude for his wife’s enthusiastic support in this endeavor.

“She’s the brains in this outfit,” he said of his wife, more than once.

Her response is always the same. “This is all him. He knows so much about what he is doing here. It’s amazing.”

His knowledge of all things poultry is vast and impressive. The 31-year-old did not sit through any university classes on domestic fowl; most of his knowledge is from hours and hours of research done on his own.

Accompany him on a tour of Southern Layed, and he will share farm facts and figures so fast you’ll need pencil and paper to keep up.

In the hatchery on any given day, there might be 1,700 eggs (more or less) in incubators. Steven charts the progress on a calendar and separates trays of eggs depending on breeds. On the 18th day, eggs are moved to another incubator for the lockdown period. On day 21, he will see the new baby chicks and vaccinate them.

At that point the chicks are moved to another hatchery where their temperatures are monitored. At 2 months, the chicks are

moved to the pole barn where they will stay until they are 4 to 6 months old and are fully feathered. Then, the chicks are moved to their breed-specific runs for free-range living.

Southern Layed has grown from 15 chickens in the early days to around 2,000 now. There are eggs aplenty in a multitude of sizes and colors, depending on the breed.

“The Cream Legbar lays blue eggs, the Whiting True Blues lay green eggs, and the Ameraucana lay blue eggs,” Steven said with the ease of reading a grocery list. “The eggs of the Australorp are pointed and longer and a light brown.

“Right now, there are 18 breeds, paired, a male and a female. Next spring, we will be fully loaded with babies.”

He can tell you at what age the Buff Orpingtons lay, that the Lavender Orpingtons are his wife’s favorites, that the Polish Roosters have little mullets and which chicks have five toes instead of three. He can also list the primary predators from which he has to protect his chicks: hawks, owls, raccoons, possums, foxes and even the family pit bull pup Lotus.

Some of the chicks have been given names. There’s Sunshine, a Buff Silkie; Cranium, a wounded Black Breasted Game Bantam hen Steven is treating; and Lucifer,

a rescued rooster with a mean streak who takes pleasure in chasing two young family members — Bella and Emma — across the pasture.

The farm’s a peaceful place, but for the roosters. And since Steven rescued 30 roosters last year, the noise level is high. At Southern Layed, the hens rule the roost. When the male population gets out of control, a rooster often finds its way to the family’s dinner table.

“Anytime you put too many males together in one place, you’re likely to have problems,” he said, smiling.

The family has opened its growing farm to the community, especially to kids, for fun and educational events. And they have plans for more of this in the future. Kids can learn not only about chickens and eggs but also about the other animals that live at Southern Layed these days. There are four goats, 14 sheep, a peacock and peahen, and some turkeys.

A typical day on the farm can be long and exhausting. After all, Steven is the caretaker of more than 2,000 chickens. That means he feeds and waters, takes care of illnesses and wounds, builds new runs and coops, and so much more. He also builds and designs chicken coops to sell to the public. But he said he has no regrets.

“Honestly, I have so much more I want to do here,” he said. “And I am the happiest I have ever been.”

Steven and Alyssa Estes with their children Braxtn, Emma, Bella and Elaine

Making a {Fashion} Statement

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS | STYLED BY JENNIE LEE | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Some people adopt pets through established rescue organizations like Oxford Animal Resource Center or Tupelo Lee Humane Society. Others just fortuitously cross paths with stray animals and have the heart to take them in. No matter their backstories, these much-loved pets, each of which was rescued by a big-hearted human, are proof that saving an animal is always in fashion.

Ruby Walkington, an 11-year-old, sixth grader at Regents School of Oxford, has a pet named Midnight, a brown-eyed bunny that is solid black, except for about three white hairs on her back. Two years ago, Ruby’s friend Delaney had what she thought were two female bunnies in the same cage. Turns out, one was a male, so Ruby took the female.

“I trained her to use a litter box like a cat,” she said. “And now, she’s a free roaming bunny.”

Midnight knows her name, and she also will do a little dance if a treat is held up in front of her. Though she’s mostly a house bunny, she enjoys time outside where her best friend Ruby puts her in a stroller and pushes her up and down the street.

“They make bunny leashes, but Midnight doesn’t like those,” Ruby said.

Continued on page 40

LOCAL RESCUE PETS AND THEIR OWNERS DRESS FOR THE SEASON AND SHARE THEIR ADOPTION STORIES.

Hi GIMLI HELLO YUKON

A year ago, David Misenhelter, owner of North Grove Equestrian Park in Oxford, offered his barn to a feral cat who is now quite at home.

“Some riders found this wild cat,” he said. “They caught it, fed it and taught it they meant no harm. They already had a cat in their barn, but I’d never had one, so they brought it over.”

Named Gimli (think “Lord of the Rings”) for his orange fur, the cat is now friends with all the horses and dogs, and never misses an opportunity to visit anyone around the barn.

“He has free run of the place,” David said. “He likes to ride in the car and on the Gator. He follows everyone around while they do chores. You can pick him up and carry him around. For starting off feral, he’s awfully friendly.”

Continued from page 39

Eagle River Yukon, a 9-year-old Appaloosa, has lived at North Grove Equestrian Park for five years.

“Yukon came to us not saddle broken,” his owner Hayden Edwards said. “We sent him off for a month of training and have been continuing training here in dressage, show jumping and cross country.”

Appaloosas are noted for their unique coloring and personality.

“They are very much a horse you have to have a conversation with,” Hayden said. “They see the world differently. Yukon has helped teach me to have more patience, empathy and learn what boundaries are.”

Yukon was not found in a rescue situation, but in the horse industry (including in Mississippi), there are many rescue and rehabilitation organizations.

“Owning a horse is quite expensive,” Hayden said. “Fortunately, there are programs that allow people to get to know about horses before getting in over their heads.”

PULLOVER AND HAT PROVIDED BY NEILSONS

woof ELLIE

One Sunday morning two years ago, Kris Wells of Tupelo received a call from her daughter McKenzie in Savannah, Georgia.

“She wanted to see if I wanted to help with a dog rescue in north Mississippi,” Kris said. “There were a ton of starving dogs, lots of Great Danes, both outside and inside a home.”

Save Rocky the Great Dane Rescue and Rehab became involved, and there were enough people helping that morning for the Great Danes to be taken into foster situations. It’s where Kris met Ellie.

“Ellie attached herself to my side early that morning and never left it,” she said. “She weighed less than 100 pounds that day; today she’s up to 150 pounds.”

In addition to being malnourished, Ellie was treated for a badly infected mammary gland, heartworms and lost an eye to glaucoma. Today, she’s thriving in the care of the Wells family and sister Sadie, another Great Dane. Kris loves the breed.

“They are fiercely protective,” Kris said. “They are such good-natured dogs, just big, old goofballs.”

Continued on page 42

HEy ALICE

When 15-year-old Isaiah Barbour was 8, his grandmother decided to get him a dog for Valentine’s Day. Grandmother, mother and young Isaiah, all from Tupelo, visited the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society.

Isaiah met a dog who was quite excited and a bit nervous. He and his mom walked off to look at other pups, but returned when his grandma said that dog cried when Isaiah walked away.

“When I heard that, I knew she was the one,” Isaiah said. “Dogs choose you.”

And so, Alice Valentine Barbour — her nose looks like a heart — went home to Tupelo that very day. Now, she’s nearly 8. She and her boy have been through a lot together, including an injury that left Alice paralyzed.

“Isaiah truly nursed her back to health,” said mom Taneill Barbour.

Alice gets excited when Isaiah gets home from school and to share a pepperoni snack.

“Most of the time, she just lays out and wants to be loved,” Isaiah said.

HAT PROVIDED BY COLLEGE CORNER PULLOVER PROVIDED BY NEILSONS

Special thanks to North Grove Equestrian Park for providing the beautiful location for these photos.

GUMTREE GALA

The Gumtree Museum of Art hosted its ninth annual fundraising gala at the Tupelo Country Club on Aug. 12. The event featured a silent art auction, music by the Massey Tate Band and more.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

1. Lauren McElwain, Judy K. Jones and Pam Maddox 2. Jamie and Ernie Joyner

3. Jenn Mulrooney and Maribeth Kirkpatrick 4. Donna Porter, Linda Caldwell and Kim Coffin

5. Curtis and Janice Trawick with Rick and Gabie Cooper 6. Susan and Guy Mitchell 7. Beth Aycock, Lynn Mize, Tommy Green, Trish Horton and Dena Steele

BOY SCOUTS CLAY CLASSIC

1. Clay Classic participants 2. Mike Armour, Wesley Webb and Jud Jernigan

3. Brad Miller, Bill Calhoun, John Curlee and Richard Tucker 4. Tyler Laden, Colton Petre, Clint Vanassellberg and Colin Chatham 5. Russ Twitty, Greg Burk, Robert Magers, Donny Kisner and Brad Nolan 6. West Cordell and Chase Farmer 7. Mark Ozbirn and Dan McCrimon 8. Brady and Casey Bruce with Buddy Fairley 9. Michael Green, Jonathan Hagood, John David and Sam Knight 10. B.J. Shaw, Casey Adams and Erik Roming

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Camp Yocona was the setting Aug. 18 and 19 for the 29th annual Boy Scout Clay Classic. More than 200 shooters participated in the fundraiser for Boy Scout camp scholarships.

AMORY VS. SALTILLO

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Amory Panthers played their first “home” football game of the season against the Saltillo Tigers Aug. 31. The game took place at Tupelo High School, where Amory will play its home games because of tornado damage caused to its stadium last spring.

1. Janiyah Hankins, Kesha Nabors and Kaiya Ezell 2. Kierston Eckford, Carlissa Latham, Kamden Garth and Gabrielle Terry

3. Treasure Ford, Rihanna Devauld, Jenna Claire Vail and Juivian Bell 4. Claire Beck, Anna Elizabeth Waite, Kennedy Tedford and Claire Scruggs

5. Michael Bennett, Tyler Beeks, Kye Dozier and Isiah Smith 6. Cori and Dex Hill 7. Copey Grantham, Todd Jordan and Corey Glenn

Family Feud for Good Samaritan Health Services

1. Jack Reed, Jamie Ford and Lori Jones

2. Carol and Fred Pitts

3. Shirley Wheeler and Anne Jones

4. Judd Wilson, Brandi McGebee, Frazier Williams, Pami Taylor, Gary Harper and Jaime Ungo

5. Robin Haire, Jason Warren, Gabi Cooper, Greg Pirkle and Jake Heyer

6. Morgan Bailey and Gaby Nieto-Hale 7. Allana Austin, Paden Gattis and Lisa Martin 8. Jeff Houin, Jennifer Cummings, Chris Hussey and Thomas Roper

Tupelo Reads with Jamie Ford

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

OLE MISS BACK TO SCHOOL

Ole Miss students returned to Oxford in early August in preparation for the first day of classes for the 2023 fall semester. Classes began Aug. 21.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CARLEIGH HARBIN

1. Capri DeMara, Riley Greenberg and Alexis White 2. Reagan Anthony, Tearanie Miller, A’Davion Bush and Shelbie Spain

3. Rheagan Taylor and Sara Reed Pearson 4. Allison Dove and Lizzie Gannon

5. Haley McGlone 7. Integrated Marketing Communications graduate students 8. Cate McCrory with Julia and Catherine Moore

IRON BARTENDER

The Iron Bartender competition (think “Iron Chef” on a liquid diet) took place at the Powerhouse Aug. 1 with local bartenders showing off their creativity. Winner of both the People’s Choice and Iron Bartender was Oxford’s El Charro. The annual event is hosted by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

1. Anna Stone and Pannawat Thamutok 2. Brian Latch, Derrick Baker and Kenny Childs

3. Daniel Angel and Juan Herrera 4. Scott and Elizabeth Mason 5. Jordan Jones and Millicent Haggard 6. Jessica Swindle and Karyn Williams 7. Price Walden and Brendan Sheerin 8. Kylie LeBeau, Mitchell Winstead and Lawrence Garson 9. Sarah Hughey and Toby Douglas 10. Mel McCamey, Sam Robinson and Matt Sherrer

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CARLEIGH HARBIN

CROSSTOWN CLASSIC

The annual Oxford Chargers vs. Lafayette County Commodores Crosstown Classic football game opened the 2023 high school football season Aug. 25 at William L. Buford Stadium. Oxford defeated Lafayette, 42-7.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CARLEIGH HARBIN

1. Amy and Adam Hartley 2. Jennifer Anderson and Chancie Lampton

3. Mariah Thompson, Jaiden Gipson and Shanell McGlown 4. Millie, Michael and Charlie Morrow

5. Princess Jones and Lauren Bossenberry

SNACK DOWN

A sold-out Snack Down, a culinary tasting event celebrating Lafayette County’s food entrepreneurs, was held Aug. 17 at the Powerhouse. Hosted by Leadership Lafayette and the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, attendees tasted offerings and shared culinary stories.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CARLEIGH HARBIN

1. Emilie Bramlett and Kristen Paris 2. Irish and Lucas Leigh

3. Dianna Cissell, Sharon Grace, Kay Butler Barefoot and DeeAnn Linton 4. Shey Taiwo and Jasmine Mitchell

5. Mirian and Nory Lorenzo with Mirrakel Hubbard 6. Brandon Atkinson and Kesha Howell 7. Paul and Allison Lavender

MegMed Aesthetics Grand Opening

The College Corner Grand Opening

1. Rowan Lovorn and Michael Oher 2. Talbert Toole and Zoe Fitch 3. Sonia Eden and Erica Balthrop

4. Friends and family of MegMed Aesthetics 5. Friends and family of The College Corner

Sanctuary Arts Festival

Michael Oher Book Signing

MONTHLY MUSINGS

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

BRINGING HOME A DOG IS A SPECIAL RITUAL I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING ONLY TWICE. BOTH TIMES IT WAS TO GET A BOY, AND BOTH TIMES I HAD A PRETTY GIRL MAKE THE TRIP WITH ME.

The first dog I brought home is the dog by which all future dogs are measured in my family. A Brittany named Decker. My fiancee at the time, now wife of a dozen years, and I picked up a mold-breaking pup an hour away and brought him to our little box made out of ticky-tacky in suburban Fort Worth. We had read, researched, bought all the gear, and were ready and committed to be dog parents, despite not being actual parents. The joys and tears that first ride home resulted in are some of my most cherished experiences.

Fast-forward a decade — different job, state, home and two kids. I got to bring home another puppy, this time with my nearly 4-year-old daughter. Dees and I embarked on a 24-hour, four-state adventure to get a 7-week-old wirehaired pointing griffon from Dubuque, Iowa. Just like that first ride home, the love and laughs this current bird dog brings are something I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Aaron Barton, owner of Barton Outfitters in Oxford, is a hunting and fishing guide. He also offers Versatile Hunting Dog training for wirehaired pointing griffons and German wirehaired pointers. VHD are bred to point game dependably and to track and retrieve on land and water. Barton and his wife Whitney live in Oxford with daughter Landry Dees, 9, and son Cal, 6.

As an expert in fishing, hunting and dog training, animals are a part of Aaron Barton’s everyday life. He talked to us about his first heartwarming encounters adopting his own family dogs.

Titan, winner of the Invitation Oxford Pet Cover Contest, is a perfect example of a dog that has very much found himself at home with his owners, Jade and Michael Terry. Read more about Titan at invitationmag.com.