Rural Missouri - September 2021 - 47

The support group uses the
money to put on fun events for
its members and also to bring in
nationally known speakers.
In recent years the festival
has benefi tted the Hope House
for foster kids, the Resurrecting
Lives Foundation for soldiers
with traumatic brain injuries
and post-traumatic stress syndrome,
the Missouri National
Veterans Memorial in Perryville
and Shriner's Hospital for Children
in St. Louis.
Last year's festival, which took
place in the midst of a pandemic,
still raised $8,361. " That's a lot,
especially when you are out in
the middle of nowhere in a small
community like we are, " Randy
says.
For the fi rst three festivals
local performers Curtis Cook and
Chas Watkins were paid to play
for the crowd. " After that when
I called to ask what he would
charge, Curtis said, 'Why would
I charge? It's a benefi t isn't it?' "
Randy says. None of the bands
have charged since, and they
bring their whole crew.
The Johnsons, who are
members of Black River Electric
Cooperative, host the event at
their home in the former country
club. They built a stage for the
bands to perform on. Last year
they added a pavilion so that
guests had a place to dance to
the music. A local rental business
donates a large tent, tables
and chairs that make the event
possible.
As word of the festival spread,
it has grown by both the number
who attend and the quality of the
items in the raffl e and auction
that raise the bulk of the funds.
For fi ve years now country singer
Travis Tritt has joined the effort,
donating a signed guitar to be
raffl ed. He's even appeared on
social media wearing a Scopus/
Sedge Fest T-shirt.
Area businesses and individuals
from as far away as California
donate prizes ranging from
Stihl chainsaws to baskets full of
kitchen utensils and an overunder
shotgun donated for this
year's raffl e by " a couple caring
souls. " There is a live auction
with Randy serving as auctioneer.
Someone goes home with a
fl at-screen TV as a door prize.
Even kids get involved selling
lemonade.
Besides music performed
by local bands, there are many
events designed to let young and
old have fun. Pumpkin painting,
badminton and bean bag toss
games are popular with the kids,
while the adults hoot and holler
as they await the results of the
" Chicken Poop Bingo. "
" I usually start the day off
playing some music for them, "
Randy says. " Then we have
karaoke. After the auction then
the bands start. It's just a day to
come enjoy yourself for a good
cause. "
No festival would be complete
without food, and this one includes
hamburgers, homemade
chili and chili dogs. Curly's
Kitchen in Jackson donates the
food and the time it takes to
prepare it.
It takes 30 vounteers to put
on the festival. It's a lot of work
for the festival's hosts, but they
don't mind a bit considering the
support they get from friends
and neighbors. " What else do
we have to do when we get old? "
Brenda says with a laugh.
" We've been blessed, " adds
Randy, a disabled veteran. " All
our kids are healthy, and our
grandkids and great-grandkids.
That's why we try to give back. "
This year's Scopus/Sedge Fest
is set for Sept. 25 at the former
Bollinger County Country Club.
Admission is $10. From Jackson,
take Highway 72 to State
Route B south and watch for the
signs. For more information call
573-238-5580 or 573-282-0480.
You can also follow the festival
on Facebook at Scopus Family &
Friends Festival.
photos courtesy Randy & Brenda Johnson
Above: One of the many fun events that takes place at the
festival is Chicken Poop Bingo. Below: Abby Strong and
Rees Flannery gladly donated the proceeds from their festival
lemonade stand to the cause.
Scopus
Sedgewickville
Brenda records the names of individuals and businesses who
donated prizes to the 2020 festival on a sign.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 47
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Rural Missouri - September 2021

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