Agriculture
The Scythe Tree
Atlas Obscura article.Roadside America article.
Local newspaper article.
James Wyman Johnson attended a Union army recruitment meeting at the Vail country schoolhouse in October 1861, about five months after the start of the Civil War. As he was mowing with his scythe the next morning, he decided to enlist. When he returned to the house, he hung his scythe in the small tree, about 8 inches in diameter and just a few feet tall, near the kitchen door. He told his parents he was going to enlist and remarked that the scythe was to stay hanging on the tree until he returned from war.... He died on May 22, 1864, from his wounds and was buried in an unknown grave.... Years passed and the handle fell away, the tree grew and gradually surrounded the blade. The long scythe blade only protruded a few inches outside the mammoth tree trunk.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 03, 2023 -
Comments (2)
Category: Agriculture, Death, Family, War, Fables, Myths, Urban Legends, Rumors, Water-Cooler Lore, Nineteenth Century
Apple-Peeling Queen
Not a beauty contest, but an attempt to craft the longest strip of apple skin.I find this report from 1973--and one from 2021, almost 50 years later! The 2021 piece may be read here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 19, 2023 -
Comments (1)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Human Marvels
Mississippi’s Queen of the Forest
I believe the title of this post alone would make the basis of an excellent fantasy franchise. Netflix, Apple+ or Amazon Prime--you know where to find me!
Senator John C. Stennis poses with Miss Katherine Alexander of Booneville, Mississippi and Governor of Miss. J. P. Coleman at the State Queen of the Forest Pageant in 1956. Left to Right: Senator Stennis, Miss Katherine Alexander, and Governor J. P. Coleman.
1959 Press Photo Dixie Shadburn, "Queen of the Forest" for Southeast Mississippi
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 31, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, 1950s, 1960s
Ninety-five Years of the Shenandoah Queens
I like the fact that they choose Queens from outside their region. Long may she reign!First photo source: The Daily News Leader (Staunton, Virginia)10 Mar 1959, Tue Page 12
The home page.
Apparently, the Court also includes Apple Blossom Princesses.
Source: The Daily News Leader (Staunton, Virginia) 22 Mar 1957, Fri Page 3
Source of article: The Times Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia) 04 May 1957, Sat Page 3
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 24, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Parades and Festivals, Regionalism, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
Using cement as fertilizer
A strange agricultural method reported on the site GlobalCement.com.Mai Quoc Hau, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Division of Lai Vung, said that the local authorities have known about the initiative of local farmers. The division has sent experts to work with the farmers. He said that he would report the case to the higher authorities for consideration because using cement as fertiliser was 'very strange.' Experts have warned that spraying cement to rice fields will make the land unsuitable for crop cultivation.
If the cement doesn't make the rice grow at least they might end up with a nice, new parking lot.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 21, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Agriculture
The Grape Day Queen of Escondido
The official page.Grape Day started in 1908 as a way to celebrate Escondido's grape harvest and promote the city. It flourished until 1950 and was revived by the Escondido History Center in 1996. Each year in October*, our community comes together to celebrate Grape Day.
An article from 2006.
The 1949 candidates, courtesy of the Weekly Times-Advocate (Escondido, California)19 Aug 1949, Fri Page 6
The 1913 winner.
Source: Times-Advocate (Escondido, California)18 Feb 1973, Sun Page 8
Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 09, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
The Future Farmers of America Sweethearts
Visit this page for a full history, and lots more photos.Prior to 1969 about the only way a female could be involved with the FFA was to be a chapter sweetheart. In the early days of the FFA, it was common for a chapter to have an FFA Sweetheart. The Sweetheart was typically voted on by the members and the selection of the sweetheart more often than not was a popularity/beauty contest. The Sweetheart, often wearing a white sweetheart jacket, might represent the chapter in a parade, at the school’s homecoming, or in a county livestock show or fair.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 22, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Education, Twentieth Century
Ellen Harkonen, Potato Queen of 1936
Source: Keansburg News (Keansburg, New Jersey) 31 Dec 1936, Thu Page 4
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 10, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Food, 1930s
Naked Viniculture
Safe for work (just bums) video here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 24, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Agriculture, Nudism and Nudists, Europe
Maid of Cotton
Unique in mandating the composition of all contest garments: 100% cotton, what else!Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 22, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, 1930s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |