Town and country for harvest festival

A "living scarecrow" family prepares to be judged.

With her mischeivous fox-face headress and ferocious roar Kathy Reardon was judged the scariest of the living scarecrows in a competition at the Marton Harvest Festival on Sunday.

She was dressed in a jute fadge decorated with bits and pieces from the gardens she passed on the road. The fox's furry face and body was draped over her head.

She was one of six entrants, and each got a certificate and a small prize.

On Sunday morning the streets around Marton Park were lined with cars as people rolled up to the festival. They found a lot to see, do, taste and try.

Crowds gathered to watch wood chopping, and there were traditional home brew, pumpkin pie and heaviest pumpkin competitions.

Jessica Sorensen and Gemma McDonald came first and second with their sweet pumpkin pies.

The champion pumpkin grower of former years, Turakina 's Aaron Akkerman, didn't compete this year - which left the field open for everyone else.

Last year Mr Akkerman's entry was 624kg. The top prize this year went to Athol Sanson, Rangitikei's parks and reserves team leader, with a mere 44.9kg. The second prize went to James Trow.

Kathy Reardon was the scariest "living scarecrow" at the Marton Harvest Festival. PHOTO STUART MUNRO

The festival featured many performances. The Winsome Lost provided toe-tapping musical entertainment from a small stage. Gardener Wally Richards talked up plant foods and Ken the Magic Man made his balloon creations.

Annabelle White gave a cooking demonstration to the public, and there was a show of geese being herded by a dog.

Children could have their faces painted, ride in a barrel train, join a tug of war or play games with hoops and horseshoes.

Gallery

Image 1 of 9: Mexico's Revenge: Kathie Robinson

The park was lined with stalls selling everything from leather goods to fishing sinkers and rocking chairs. Some stallholders just aimed to win hearts - they were the Green Party candidates for Palmerston North and Rangitikei, and Marton's Christian churches.

Food available crossed the spectrum as well - from Mexican and Asian to tapas, frybread, hangi and candyfloss. And there was a small outdoor bar, provided by Feilding brewery Common Ancestor.

Children take a ride in the barrel train.