Ox mascot helps pump up pride for next year’s county bicentennial
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A fiberglass ox painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward is pulled on a trailer during Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday.
The ox includes an agricultural theme on one side and a tribute to the Orleans County 4-H Fair on the other side. It makes its home at the Fairgrounds.
The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee spearheaded the project with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The Bicentennial Committee would like to see more of the oxen painted for the county’s 200th anniversary in 2025.
There will be an informational meeting for the public to hear more about how to get an ox as part of the bicentennial celebration. That meeting will be at noon on Jan. 25 at Hoag Library in Albion.
Saturday’s parade also included the debut of an ox costume created by Robyn Watts. Lucy Rivers wore the costume during the parade. She is shown here with the ox statue at the staging area before the parade at the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina.
The ox walks the parade route on Main Street. The costume includes a vest with the names of the 10 towns, four villages, five school districts and some of the hamlets.
Some of the Bicentennial Committee members and volunteers work on getting the float ready on Friday at the fairgrounds. Lynne Menz designed the float.
The ox on the float is expected to make more appearances at local parades and community events to help the county celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025.
(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers is a member of the Bicentennial Committee.)
