Scarecrow Fest in Medina has new location, more partners for community event
Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company and Medina Lions Club will join forces on Oct. 13 to sponsor the fire company’s open house and chicken barbecue and the Lions’ annual Scarecrow Fest. Shown at Forrestel Farms, where the Scarecrow Fest will take place, are from left: Lions Jim Hancock and Charlene Walsh, Forrestel Farms owner Mary Herbert, Lion Sherry Wheatley who heads the Scarecrow Fest, and firefighter Jason Watts who heads the chicken barbecue.
MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club and Shelby Volunteer Fire Company will join forces for the first time on Oct. 13 for two popular events.
For the first time in its more than 10-year history, the Medina Lions Scarecrow Fest will take place at Forrestel Farms, just a stone’s throw from the Shelby firehall on Route 63, where an open house and chicken barbecue have been planned for the same day.
Sherry Wheatley, who started the annual Scarecrow Fest as a member of Medina Lions, Shelby firefighter Jason Watts and Lions member Jim Hancock pose with a scarecrow at Forrestel Farms, where the annual Scarecrow Fest will take place on Oct. 13. The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company will have a chicken barbecue the same day and donate part of the proceeds to the Medina Lions Club.
Sherry Wheatley, who chairs the annual Scarecrow Fest for Medina Lions, called Shelby firefighters to ask if they would consider doing a chicken barbecue during the Scarecrow Fest. Firefighter Jason Watts replied they were already planning some special events for that day, which included a chicken barbecue.
The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company was already planning an open house and fire prevention activities for the community, which will also include tours of the county’s fire safety trailer.
The fire company has agreed to donate a portion of every chicken barbecue ticket sold to the Lions Club.
The barbecue will be served from 11 a.m. until sold out. Tickets may be purchased from any Lions Club member, Shelby firefighter or at Zambito Realty on North Main Street, English Rose Tea Shoppe on Main Street or Ashlee’s Place on East Center Street.
The Lions have been sponsoring a Scarecrow Fest for many years and have tried several locations, including the canal basin, YMCA and Roberts Farm Market. This will be the first year to have it at the historic Forrestel Farm, which was established in 1825.
Owner Mary Herbert was delighted to cooperate with them.
“Our award-winning sports/riding camp here is the best-kept secret in Orleans County ,” Herbert said. “I’m thrilled to share my historic farm with more of the community.”
The Scarecrow Fest is an idea developed by Wheatley and is truly a community event, she said.
A lot of different games are planned for the kids, and everything is donated, Wheatley said.
She gets old clothes from the MAAC Thrift Shop; her mother Pauline Lanning cuts out and sews 200 scarecrow heads; the art classes at Medina High School paints the faces; Iroquois Job Corps makes stakes for the bodies and helps carry out all the T posts the day before; wood for the stakes is donated by Matt Mundion; and Craig Lacy from Medina Parts lets them store the supplies in his building.
Wheatley said this is such a fun event for all ages, and she loves seeing parents’ and grandparents’ faces as their children choose the clothing to make a scarecrow and take part in the other activities.
Charlene Walsh is chairing the Scarecrow Fest with Wheatley.
