Queen Maxine Huggard, ambassador first

By Joanne (Cheever) Lound, Mrs. Asparagus 1976

As one of the key people behind the formation of the National Asparagus Festival (NAF), Maxine Huggard had a vision for the organization which she exemplified when she was chosen as the first Mrs. Asparagus in 1975; to promote the agri-business of asparagus beyond Oceana County, by celebrating it for a few days in June and promoting it in other ways throughout the year.

In addition to involving farmers, processors, and local businesses that served tourists, the NAF actively recruited people and organizations with wide-ranging talents and interests to be part of a program of county wide events.

From churches, schools, athletes (bowlers, golfers, tennis players, shuffle-borders, runners) and bakers, to artists, musicians and civic organizations; from people who wanted to have fun watching a parade that included green horses, to people who loved a smorgasbord celebrating an unusual vegetable with recipes that didn’t yet have the immediate appeal of say, a cherry or apple pie.

I think Maxine understood the importance of bringing many dif- ferent people together to make the festival a success. There was a conscious effort - after two years of the bake-off and smorgasbord as Shelby and New Era events - to broaden the base of what became the NAF. It included farmers, businesses and residents of the north end of Oceana County, especially Hart, to overcome that old Hart-Shelby thing.

Maxine was a business woman, writer and editor with a deep understanding of the importance of advertising, promotion and telling a good story. She brought all those skills to her role as Mrs. Asparagus. She was an intelligent, articulate ambassador for the crop and the entire community.

I heard that she loved doing all those interviews and appearances. She was enthusiastic and tireless, and paid attention to details. She was gracious in expressing her thanks with hand-written notes to friends, as well as to strangers who wrote asking for asparagus recipes or other questions about growing asparagus. I wasn’t there, but I heard that at one parade, while she was riding in a convertible, smiling and waving at the crowds, one of the Asparagus Kids was laying in her lap after being sick along the way.