Carolyn Heilman, GRI, SRS

Yesterday I attended Church as usual. Small Methodist Church in our community of 1,100 souls. There are five churches in our town and the percentage of people who do attend church is not high so you can imagine what our membership would be. We have around 40 active attendees. Visitors are not common so when we have someone new there we all make an effort to say hello and visit with them. The couple yesterday were an elderly man and wife who were making their first visit to our church. They live in Moberly, Mo which is about 70 miles from New Franklin. They were there to observe our minister who had applied for a scholarship to attend the seminary. Our minister was talking with them and the older gentleman introduced himself and his wife. The pastor knew someone would be coming so was not surprised.

Being a small community church we don't often have new people join our church but we were so fortunate to have a lady who moved to the area visit our church and eventually join. She has been there a couple of years and we are very blessed to have her. She moved to New Franklin from somewhere in Texas by way of Columbia. A friend of theirs knew of someone in our area who was selling some land and they were looking for property to buy to build a new home in the country. The property was perfect and they made the purchase, built their new home and moved in.

She was sitting directly in front of the visiting couple and after he and the minister finished their conversation she turned around and introduced herself. She could hardly talk to him because of her emotions. Seems her father and this gentleman were best friends years ago and she remembered him and his name. Neither he or her father had ever been to New Franklin and indeed lived quite a distance from our town. The last time she had seen him she was a young child. They talked briefly before the service started and then met after church for a longer visit. She had pictures of her mother whom he knew well. It was a joyous reunion.

It certainly is a very small world.

Came into work and was asked by broker and fellow realtor to go with them to view a home for a possible listing. We took off in the car with me not knowing which direction we would be traveling. Several miles east of town we found the home and did the walk through. Time to head back to town. Since we were out in the area we decided to backtrack down another road to see if we could see the farm where Anheuser Busch had built a new breeding farm for the Clydesdale Horses. Started seeing a double row of white fencing and knew we were on the right track. As we got closer we could see this huge, gorgeous red barn surrounded by horse paddocks and parked beside were two trailers with the Anheuser logo on the side. We had heard that the farm was off limits to the public so didn't anticipate being able to get any closer. Did see some of the breeding stock in the distance in several areas. Got to the gated entrance and low and behold the gate was open...do we go in and risk being told to leave or just turn around and go home. Saw a pickup down the lane with a couple taking pictures so...what the heck. All they can do it tell us to leave. So, off we go toward the barn. The pickup we saw left the farm and as we meandered down the lane another pickup came to greet us. We jokingly asked the driver if we were going to be arrested. He laughed and said that we had arrived at the farm on Media Day and were welcome to drive around and look and then probably better leave. We were right beside a paddock with 10-12 foals who were all taller than we were. Got out our cell phones and took pictures and then drove up to the barn, turned around and drove out. What a great surprise to be able to get up close. Certainly not what we expected when we started out that day.

The Third weekend in September is always the Annual Santa Fe Trail Days celebration in New Franklin, MO. This year was the 30+ Annual event. No one knows for sure any more just what year it actually is. The event is held on Friday Night and all day Saturday. The Friday night event this year had a classic car cruise-in, a little Mr. & Miss Santa Fe Trail Days contest, a pedal tractor pull and a street dance. The local Eagles Lodge had a bar-b-que and a beer garden. The weather was gorgeous and the street were packed.

Saturday morning began with the ever popular baby contest which draws parents and babies from all the surrounding communties to take part. The streets were lined with vendors of all kinds. There were crafts booths, food booths, face painting, homemade pies, kids games and historical demonstrations of old-time crafts. A bounce house, a blow-up jousting pit, pony rides and the ever present dunk tank filled the closed off downtown area. A quilt show was held in a local church and there were Army Hummers along side an old time cannon display.

The afternoon began with a large parade at one o'clock. The parade has continued to grow every year and can boast of being the largest parade around. From the local police, fire dept, classic vehicles, floats, color guard, dance groups, unusual vehicle, horses and the ever present policital candidates the parade lasted well over an hour. Folks come from far and wide to take in the small town spectacle with great enjoyment. Kids go home with pockets stuffed with candy thrown from every conceivable type of conveyance.

After the parade there were various entertainment acts such as a clogging group, cake auction and skits by the High School Drama Club. One favorite was a hot dog eating contest which had a large group of entries and a large crowd of supporters. This was followed by a lyp-sync contest and a talent contest. The evening was rounded out with a teen, tween, adolescent street dance on the west end of the square with a DJ and an adult dance with a country band in and near the beer garden on the east end of the street. The day went very well and everyone had a great time.

Join us next year, the third weekend in September when it all happens again!