On Friday night before their celebration, they gathered into the 4-H barn to host a welcome dinner and receive their special guest, David Carr, Jr. He's in the pic below with the sunglasses. The food was very tasty as was the fellowship with friends. Linda Smith gave a brief talk about how the idea of bringing Juneteenth to Lafayette County started through front porch talks. Some were working afterwords on their booths and even some vendors where outside arriving eagerly ready to set-up their wares.
Front row left to right: Deborah May, Dorothy Lillard, David Carr, Jr. Fred Smith, Dale Felder, and Eric Hartzell. Not pictured: Chere Hartzell, and Linda Smith.
David Carr, Jr. loves to play his saxophones and he had about three different types. We enjoyed how he walked out into where folks w ere seated and played personally to them. He won't be forgotten. Marshall, MO has Bob James and Higginsville is adopting David Carr, Jr. as one of the 'villians.
Arron Haynes on his j.o.b.s. 
He ran the day with the committee and they had it going on. He is fondly known as "Mr. Juneteenth." He definitely has vision and the wherewithal to work at it until it's a done deal.
The parade was just outstanding and special thanks and kudos goes to Chere Hartzell, parade coordinator. The parade participants were quite diverse in race, age and species. There were the locals and those from out-of-town. There were more watchers than in past years that lined the downtown streets. Terrence Arnold, reporter with the Higginsville Advance did on the spot interviews and wrote an informative article for the paper and had some good pics, too.
Terrence Arnold
Some of the above pics were taken prior to the start of the parade.
(James Shipley, parade grand marshall)
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The KC Marching Cobras and the Marching Falcons were part of the day's festivities. At the conclusion of the parade, the two groups continued their performances at the Fairground Park entertaining the crowd with a friendly "face-off "that lasted over an hour.
The annual opening ceremony immediately followed and was held in the Ed Schwitsky 4-H barn. A back drop that included life-sized wooden art creation of a Buffalo soldier, Abraham Lincoln, and General Granger. Linda Smith was the mistress of ceremonies. Reverend Dr. Terrence Moody, pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Warrensburg, MO gave the opening prayer, scripture, and words of wisdom. His fiery message taught the group how it was always in God's plan that there be freedom for all.
Musical selections were performed by Gregory Oliver, Shiloh Baptist Choir, Janice Elmore, and Rachel Elmore. Deacon James Shipley, Tuskegee Airmen mechanic gave brief remarks. Dale Felder, Abraham Lincoln en actor, gave an educational presentation. State Representative Mike McGee and aspiring political candidates greeted the group and gave remarks.
(Members of Shiloh Baptist Choir and Reverend Dr. Terrence Moody, pastor)
(James Shipley and his wife)
( Dale Felder with his wife, Chris)
The emphasis on education has been an annual Juneteenth tradition. Exhibitors/displays included the Kansas City Health Department, Ron Cole's African American memorabilia , Wentworth College, Odessa Black History, Lafayette County African American history, Linda Smith's displays about George W. Smith, Jr., African American Berkshire hog farmer, Mount Muncie Cemetery, Juneteenth Celebration history, Ora Mae Williams' family display, Fred Smith's horseshoe display, Thomas Hunt;s family display, and the Lincoln University Extension agency.
A variety of vendors lined the streets with good tasting food, drinks, clothing items, and other services. There were Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation t-shirts and souvenir booklets for sale.
Raymond Nichols was the DJ. David Carr, Jr. gave his concert of cool jazz sounds under the gazebo and it lasted for several hours.
Doris Graham and Fred Smith were the raffle winners. Graham won a blue ray wifi DVD player and Smith won a $100 gift card.
It was a day filled with horse rides for the kids, time for friends and families to get together and celebrate freedom for all.
Juneteenth is the oldest observance of the end of slavery in the United States. The committee which is comprised of a diverse group of volunteers from Lexington, Higginsville, Odessa, and surrounding communities worked hard to organize a day to celebrate family, culture, and community.
(Fred Smith and Sonya Downton, father and daughter and both are veterans).
