National Asparagus Festivals

village/town; 6th Annual Square Dance; 4-H Fair; Everyone was coming up with unique ways to promote the county star - BakeOff at New Era Village Hall (Ingrid Iauch, chairman & Sally Richards vice-chair) Art Fair (chaired by Maria Vander Sluys and Jan Geilser); Piano Smashing Contest (New Era Chamber).

1980 - Article by Ed Strong ...over 2M pounds of asparagus sold on the fresh market reported by Ed Strong, County Extension Director; MAAB videotape made to play at grocery stores; Car Raffle by Meyer’s Chevrolet; Mary Ann Carey develops NAF Girl Scout badge!

1981 - The Hart Journal and Oceana’s Herald-Journal merge - first year as Oceana’s Herald-Journal; May 18 “Michigan Hospitality Day” handed out packs of asparagus to oncoming motorists on the freeway off ramp in Hart; First year for antiques show; Representative Ed Giese brings 200 lbs. of asparagus to give away to Lansing Legislators; Jean Scheerer had the first group of Asparagus, Penny Wahl had the Asparagus Stalkers they were the dancers that went around her and Tim England to events, tv; Mary Ann participated in Mrs. Michigan pageant.

1982 - First Bed Race held (awards for fastest and best decorated as well as in each heat; 4-people powered with bed components and a 100 lb. passenger required); 2nd year 10k took runners through an asparagus field. Asparagus Advocate goes from a full page insert in OHJ to a half-size tab.

1983 - 10th Festival; Denise Plummer becomes youngest to run for Queen - first Queen feature article; Handed out asparagus to motorists exiting freeway; Asparagus gift items available at Cherryland Cards & Gifts; 10 K Run from SHS; Vic Fetzner passes out hundreds of asparagus recipes on plane and in Europe on a trip sponsored by Farm & Ranch magazine; Signs for all local float made by Carla Hansen, employee at Shelby Variety Store owned by Fethkes; NAF Fishing contest (local sportsman Chuck Stafford coordinator).

1984 - 10th Mrs. Asparagus (11th full Festival); Airplane rides sponsored by Shelby Rotary; Balloon ascents from SHS parking lot; Sky diver too; Bed Race chaired by Trish Bender; NAF Fireman’s Water Battle to feature two timed events that include unrolling and linking up hose, climbing a ladder and hitting plastic jug off scaffold with stream of water; the second timed event involved drawing water from a portable tank and using that to spray the jug off the scaffold from ground level; four color souvenir book was on sale - included history, list of growers, industry processors and other festival info; sold for $1.

1985 - Article in Farm Wife

News told of Joy & David Ramey of New Era and the ½ acre asparagus research plot she has operated since 1979 for MSU; Secretary of State, Richard Austin, Grand Marshall; Best ball golf tournament hosts 12th year.

1986 - Oceana Performing Arts

Council brings “Home Grown Grass” acoustic group to SHS Cafetorium; Kids Parade and Talent Show still on schedule.

1987 - Shelby Rotary Pancake

Breakfast at HS for locals, visitors and campers at Getty Park; Mrs. Asparagus; 14th Annual smorgasbord (Steve Crothers).

1988 - Two RV units camping; Asparagus Luncheon at Shelby UCC; Last year of amateur talent show.

1989 - Food Communicator’s Tour brought nine journalists and others who talk/write about food visited OC for farm and processing tours and cooking demonstrations to get story ideas; Mock Rock contest; 93 entries in parade, bluegrass concert at Val-Du; Happy Wanderers Trailer Club rally at Shelby; Avion TravelCade Club rallies in Hart; Recycling contest in Shelby (Mary Jane Becker).

1991 - 50-ton donation of asparagus by Oceana processors; Bake-Off.

1992 - First year of Mrs. Asparagus “human interest” style article and photo; Festival still had events running entire week

(Monday - Quilt Show, Thursday - Talent Show, Friday - Art Fair, Yard Sales, Kids Activities/ Parade, Saturday - 5K, ParadSmorgasbord e, Fireman’s Battle, “Refreshment Tent”; Square Dance, Spanish Dance; Sunday - Walk-a-thon), Hart’s first community yard sale.

1993 - Board resignations due to President Sallgren telling board members couldn’t vote for new members; 3-on-3 basketball tournament; Fireworks on Saturday, Kids parade on Friday with play after by Dairy Delight; Spear-It 5K in Hart.

1994 - “Michigan Asparagus Salutes Its Roots.” Princesa/ Princeso contest (JoAnn Estrada & Casey Fox) 4th graders (Sponsored by OC Migrant Council, the 4-H Youth Program, Oceana Co Farm Bureau, the NAF and Chase Farms); Double Decker Bus transportation between Hart & Shelby events; Willie Nelson concert at Val-Du Lakes; two farm tours, morning to night to Beachums and Woodland, 3-on3 basketball tournament; Shelby UCC Luncheon; Sunday hym sing at Sackrider church; street musicians Loney and Linder perform at various venues during festival; Judie Burmeister hosts farm tours.

1995 - New product - Asparagus Guacamole; Hart UMC Luncheon; Shoreline Barbershop

Past Festivals

Continued on pg. 14

Choir at courthouse and JGP; first year of food show (technically the switch over was in 1993 when one was held in the State Street Gym).

1996 - Mrs. Asparagus Beth LaPorte participated in Michigan Vacation Expo in Chicago; Hart Library used book sale; Food Show held at SMS; Children’s Parade featured juggling artist Tim Salisbury “Chain Saw Dude” - juggled chain saws, bowling balls, shart knives, fruits, vegetables.

1997 - “Stalking the Good Life”; In Entertainment Tent Mock Rock Friday night; Storyteller Jack Hickey after Clown Band on Saturday;

1998 - 25th NAF; Talent Show, Jazz Ensemble, Entertainment

Tent and Rotary auction at John Gurney Park; Farm Tours; Fireworks still in schedule; Pancake Breakfast at OCCOA; Asparagus kids photo and names in Advocate.

1999 - New asparagus cookbook available; Fish Boil Dinner in Entertainment Tent by Fresh Catch; Asparagus pin arrests; Hart/Shelby Rotary Auction at Shelby Library;

2000 - Pancake Breakfast at Hart Historic District; Rotary Auction; up to 500 expected at Fly-In Breakfast; “10 Ways to Introduce Asparagus” contest by Linda Jonseck.

2001 - Family Variety Show and Fish Boil in Entertainment

Tent at Getty Field; Kid’s Parade, Little Miss/Master continues; Pancake Breakfast continues at HHD; Annual Rotary auction.

2003 - “Our Tips Are Tops” Asparagus Eating Contest; New event - Bulls and Barrels Rodeo; Fly In Breakfast; Quilt Show at Hart Public Library; Asparagus Photography Contest & Exhibit at Hart Public Library; Little Miss and Mister Asparagus Contest; Children’s Parade; 1st annual softball tournament.

2004 - “Asparagus in the Limelight”; Oceana Jaycees sponsored Entertainment Tent; “Farmer Cultivate” story by Queen Masunas; 2nd year for Eating Contest and Rodeo; Children’s Parade.

2005 - Queen Stephanie Wildey taped an appearance for Michigan Home and Garden Show in Lansing; Attended Folk Festival (still going at that point); As a nurse wants to promote nutritional value; McGovern Smorgasbord and Rodeo continue; Festival Events in Advocate show main events (no quilt show, eating contest listed.

2006 - “Asparagus - Taste Michigan’s Best” Asparagus! Stalking the American Life Documentary Premiere; Still holding Little Miss & Master Asparagus contest and Kids Parade; Hart Historic open, music and asparagus eating; Joan Glover passes away the day of the festival; no entertainment tent/or Scottville Clown Band (no suitable concert location) - Jaycees disbanded and insurance too costly for NAF; Kids Craft Event hosted by Sheriff’s Dept, manned by Shelby teachers; Fly-In antique cars, Army & Coast Guard helicopters as well.

2007 - Repeat of events from last year; police dept offered a silent auction for used bikes; 11th Annual Library Book sale; Queen Heather Green was an asparagus kid at age 3 during the reign of Carol Waller. 2nd Film Festival returns.

2008 - Film Festival returns with Asparagus Doc and Hamburger movie; Queen Michele Amstutz notes participation is down, wants to coordinate fundraising, joins board after; 6th Annual Bulls and Barrels rodeo.

2009 - Main events take place in Hart until 2024; Advocate is the size of paper section; 7th annual bull riding extravaganza; new event - “Collection Show” at Shelby UCC.

2010 - Queen Kim Morden mentions the festival has been struggling due to lack of funds and volunteers, she created a Facebook page for festival, food show judge in Kzoo; Miss and Master Asparagus.

2011 - Magic Show at the library; Oceana Singers concert; All Star Softball game; Tittabawassee Valley Fife & Drum Corps from Midland; Kids Activities downtown Hart (no kids parade), Asparagus Greenbacks sponsored by Hart Main Street; Fox Barn introduces Asparagus Wine; Linda Foster from Hart Chamber said more volunteers are needed; Softball tourney had to be canceled due to lack of participation.

2012 - Shelby Jazz Band, and Oceana Singers entertain; NAF “Electric Wombats” concert after at Hart Commons.

2013 - Antique cars on display at Hart Historic District; Kids Zone, Used Book Sale.

2014 - 79 cent per pound asparagus; family activities and entertainment on Hart Commons.

2015 - Request for more volunteers; Queen pageant in Shelby, meal before featuring variety of asparagus dishes by SPS Food Service Mary Rose Vanas, SHS Jazz Band entertainment, George Lessens MC, Courtney Kokx crowned queen (see 1997 25th Anniversary AA parade photo of “Crystal Valley Stalkers” she is 2nd from right); Vernon CT couple travel to MI just to attend the festival.

2016 - Candidates need only be graduating HS and older to run for queen.

2017 - News article states NAF one of three Asparagus Festivals in the U.S. but only festival that crowns a queen; Todd Greiner debuts microwavable “fresh” asparagus - first in MI; Ladies Golf Scramble at Golden Sands; Family movie in entertainment tent.

2018 - Former Hart City Manager Stan Rickard named as Grand Marshall of parade.

2019 - NAF was a participant at the Oceana Ag Banquet “Taste of Oceana” Reception; Stacia Erickson Farm Tour Guide.

2020 - Advocate had Grand Marshal’s article, Ben Werling article, Oomen Farms, Jensen Farm, Mr. Asparagus, Queen Retrospective, Farm Tour History.

2023 - 28th Annual Food Show; new event NAF After Party.