Annual Scarecrow Trail kick-off, fall plant sale set for Oct. 23

by Jo Anne Embleton news@thecherokeean.com
Courtesy photos
Click for more images

JACKSONVILLE – An annual tradition offered up by the Cherokee County Master Gardener Association returns this month at the Ruth Bowling Nichols Arboretum in Jacksonville: The opening of the Scarecrow Trail and the group’s fall plant sale are slated to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the creativity of the scarecrows this year,” said Cherokee County AgriLife Extension horticulturist Kim Benton. “And this year’s plant selection at the plant sale is going to be really good. I think a lot of folks will enjoy what will be offered.”

The plant sale is a one-day event that goes until 2 p.m.

“It’s always great to see what the local master gardeners are successful with,” she said. “And people can ask questions and talk to group members about gardening here in Cherokee County.”

Meanwhile, the trail is open through Oct. 30, with daily hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and closed Sunday. Admission is 1 canned good or $1 per person, in support of HOPE – Jacksonville.

The trail’s opening day events include live entertainment and a snack food table.

“We’ll have a dance troupe performing, and some music and other entertainment, along with a donation area for people to drop off their canned goods,” Benton said.

The Scarecrow Trail launched about a decade ago, as a way to “bring in a new level of community involvement, and to have family fun – we haven’t always had a lot of family activity in Cherokee County, and now it’s grown into a popular event,” she said.

“Last year, when we had the event, even though it was small because of COVID, we had so many people reach out in thanksgiving that we held it. It was something they’d brought their children to, and now their kids were bringing their own children here, and they talked about how much they loved it.”

Any group or individual can set up a scarecrow. The fee for businesses, organizations, churches, families and individuals is $5, but schools and students entering through their schools may enter their scarecrow project free of charge.

Registration forms are available at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, 1714 E. Rusk St., the AgriLife Extension office, 165 E. 6th St. in Rusk, and on the “Cherokee County – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service” Facebook page.

They may be returned to either physical address, or emailed to sabhearts@aol.com. Completed forms also may be mailed to the Extension Office, PO Drawer B, Rusk, TX 75785

Scarecrow displays may be set up between noon and 6 p.m. Oct. 21-22; disassembly will be from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 3-5. Scarecrows not removed by noon, Saturday, Nov. 6 will become property of CCMGA.

CCMGA encourages those interested in participating to create original scarecrows to display on the trail, and have set up the following regulations:

- No scary or gory scarecrows

- No weapons of any kind

- No loose items that might blow around

- No signs larger than 22" x 28"

- Exhibits no larger than 6' x 8'

- No direct or hard advertising

- No political statements

CCMGA reserves the right to remove any display that violates these rules.

For more information, call the county AgriLife Extension office, 903-683-5416, or call 903-780-7361.