Fun in Winnsboro
Third Weekend of Autumn Trails

by
Maryann Miller

This is when it all began. The third weekend in October was the big fall trail ride that started over 50 years ago. Then some Winnsboro community leaders decided to create a whole month of activities and interests to draw people to this little town to enjoy the fall colors, good weather, and friendly people.

And people are still coming.

The Trail Ride weekend starts with the parade on Friday, and the rodeo queen and rodeo princess always lead the parade, carrying flags. The Winnsboro Rodeo Queen is Gracie Christian, (R)who was riding BJ, a rescued mustang. He placed 3rd in the 2007 mustang challenge, and Gracie rides him in break-away roping events. She got first place a couple of weeks ago in a competition.

Carlee Baber, the 2010 Winnsboro Rodeo Princess was on Punkin, and she was carrying the Texas flag. She competes in barrel racing.

Kennedy Baber, is the 2010 Jr. Princess for the Winnsboro Rodeo Club. She said she was not riding that day because her horse did not want to come to the parade.

Callee Baber (below R) is the Franklin County Sheriff's Posse Princess. Her father, Jeremy Baber is the president of the Winnsboro Rodeo Association, and Callee said that they have all grown up around horses and rodeo. "I would go and see all those queens and princesses and decided I would like to do that some day," she said. "So I did."

All of the contestants for rodeo queen or princess go through the same process. They must know points about horses and know facts about rodeo events. They have to give a speech and model, and they have to show they can control a horse by doing patterns in front of judges.

Bailey Newsom (L) is the Hopkins Country Rodeo Committee Princess. She lives in Winnsboro and was riding Big Texas Jack, Tex for short. She said she was riding her father's roping horse. "Mine isn't good in parades," she said. Tex is quiet and well-mannered around other horses."

People often come great distances to take part in the trail ride, but few have ever come as far as Stephanie Page, (below R) who lives in Australia. She asked for a trip to Texas for her 16th Birthday, and when asked why Texas she said, "Because I wanted to ride a mule."

Apparently, mules are not all that common in Australia. Stephanie went to San Diego first to be with her grandparents, Al & Myrna Page, then they all came here for several days. When they leave here, they will go back to San Diego, then all three will fly to Australia.

Stephanie's father, Gary Page, was invited to go play baseball in Australia. in 1984 and has stayed ever since. "He's now a Lt. Commander in the Royal Australian Navy," Al said.

When visiting Texas, Al and Myrna stay with their good friends Al and Pat Wilson, (L) who live in Coke. The couples have been friends for over 40 years. "We were neighbors in San Diego," Pat said. "When we retired out of San Diego, my Texas man needed to come home."

Pat said they would love for their friends to move to Texas but Al Page said. "We're old beach rats. We don't stray far." (Al & Myrna - Below)

When Stephanie returned to San Diego she said that the 5 days she spent in Texas were memories she would carry for a lifetime.

This was also the weekend for the 3rd Friday Arts Festival, and quite a few people came downtown to meet artists and perhaps do some early holiday shopping. Rose Burgin and Jan Patterson came from Longview with their beautiful stained glass. This was their first time to be in Winnsboro for the 3rd. Friday, but Rose said they would be back.

Rose (L) said she always wanted to do stained glass, then took a class in Longview at Crafters Glass Garden. "I just love it, and have been doing it ever since."

Jan said they decided to try to sell their work after they made so much, there was no more room to hang in in their home.

Sandy Page,(Below R) the Cultural Arts Director for Winnsboro said that the 3rd. Friday Arts Festival has grown steadily since it started last spring. "We had a couple of off months when it got so hot," she said, but it has definitely picked up this weekend. And a lot of the venders said they will come back even if they don't sell very much. They like meeting the other artists here and just having a fun weekend in Winnsboro."

Another new artist at the weekend festival was Alvin Tanner, who does wood burning and wood carving. His business is called Cast Creek Craft, and he can custom design pieces for all occasions. He has a very unique wine-bottle holder that involves as much physics as it does art. He decorates a flat piece of wood, then bores a hole for the neck of the wine bottle. When the bottle is inserted, the holder will balance on a counter or table.

There is always something new, different, and interesting at the festival, and that is what continues to draw people back.

As far as the trail ride goes. Not much changes from year to year, but that is the way the riders like it. They want to come to Winnsboro to gather at City Park and share in some fun, then go out for the annual ride.