Well, hello to all our festival fans and attendees. Another year has rapidly passed and September is on our doorstep again. The Rarden Festival Committee has been busy all year planning another great Rarden Whitetail Deer Festival for Sept 19, 20, and 21st.

Our Bow shoot in 2007 had a record 200 shooters and promises another great year. Once again Scott Hoffer will be organizing the competition and has purchased several new 3D targets. All entrants to the shoot will get a free entry for a new Mathews Outback Bow compliments of Jed’s Taxidermy, who is the shoot sponsor for the second year now. All paid entries will also receive $1.00 off our breakfast at the Fire Station Saturday morning from 7-11am.

Jed’s Taxidermy will be in the Trophy Buck Tent this year which we’ve decided to expand to 90 feet in length due to the large increase in Trophy Bucks and other taxidermy exhibits. No charge to enter your buck and Trophy Scoring available again. Largest bucks will win plaques sponsored by B&B Trophy. Twenty-four hour security is provided. Any and all Taxidermy items are invited to be displayed.

New for the Shotgun competition this year is “Shotgun Bowling”  Dave Rivers will be organizing the shoot again this year and once again it is sponsored by Bear Creek Cash and Carry. All gauge guns welcome. Judge will have final say in all matches.

The Muzzleloader competition continues to grow and is being brought to you again by Adams County Discount Store. Dick Ryan and Jim Muse will supervise again this year.

 Due to popular request, we have contracted with Murray Bros Amusements , a carnival ride company for all ages from Cincinnati. They have something for all age groups to satisfy you thrill seekers out there.

As always, there will be lots of live entertainment on stage and by huge popular demand Jack Lacy and his Karaoke Contest will be back this year. We had a lot of excellent talent contestants in 2007. The judges had to have a tough job in judging this one….

A regular exhibit at the Whitetail Deer Festival is the ever popular Hawk and Owl Program hosted this year by our old friends Raptor Inc of Cincinnati. This year’s bird program is brought to you by Friends of Scioto Brush Creek Inc., Jenny Groves Day Care, and Dr. William T. Esham

Alongside in the exhibitor tent will be our increasingly successful Snakes of Ohio exhibit with friends Larry Cartmill of NOAH and Jenny Richards and Zach Jacobs of Shawnee Nature Center. NOAH is sponsored by McAllister’s One-Stop

And for you Indian Relic collectors, check out the Indian artifacts display of Lloyd Newman and Charlie Brown many of which were found in our own community!

In keeping with the educational goals of our festival, we’re pleased to have back Friends of Scioto Brush Creek Inc. with their aquariums of fish species from local Scioto Brush Creek. This is always an impressive exhibit for young and old alike and a very worthwhile organization to be a part of. If you’re interested in joining, they’ll have the info.

Also in the big tent will be our woodcarver friends showing off their skills as well as our local Rarden History Exhibit from days gone by.

The 3-on-3 basketball competition will be back and held in the Rarden Community Gymnasium which has underwent a lot of improvements the past year thanks to funds raised from the festival. We thank our returning sponsors Ritchie Foods and Southern Ohio Lumber. Another competition is the annual Cornhole tournament sponsored by the Rarden Fire Department.

The 5K Run will be back again for the third year.

The Baby Contest and Lil Miss Doe & Lil Mr. Buck programs will be back for a second year and grows in popularity each year as does the annual Festival Queen Program. Thanks to Honda of Rarden for returning as its sponsor.

We have decided to bring back the kids poster contest and display them in the large picnic shelter for judging.

And I’ve saved the newest attraction for 2008 for last. Introducing for the first time, the Greased Pig Contest.
This competition is for kids age groups up to 15yrs.  Entry fee is $5.00 and promises to be fun for all the kids.

Along with the aforementioned activities, we will have returning Hosscat the Mechanical Bull, the State of Ohio Division of Wildlife Bow safety shooting trailer, taxidermy demonstrations, exotic animals, food and craft vendors.

As always, we wrap up on Sunday with an auction and a Grand Parade down Main Street and close out by giving away our annual Grand Raffle Prizes…a new 2008 Honda Rancher, Mathews Drenaline Bow, and handmade Whitetail Bedspread and Shams.

You can support the festival by purchasing tickets on these items, buying a t-shirt, 50/50 tickets, or just being here and supporting the vendors and sponsors which enable us to bring this ever popular festival to everyone free of charge each year.

As always, I want to thank all our dedicated festival committee members, volunteers, advertisers, and sponsors who make this possible and have taken us into our 7th year now. We hope you will return and support the Rarden Whitetail Deer Festival as all proceeds continue to fund various community projects throughout the year and if you’ve never attended, then you don’t know what you’ve been missing…..see you there!

Gene McAllister, Chairman
2008 Rarden Festival Committee