The story of Wellborn’s first Blueberry Festival



By Betty Barnes

Blueberry Festival 1994 was the first of many yet to come. The WCA had been having a big celebration for the 4th of July. It was so hot! hot! hot! We were looking for something cooler to do earlier in the year. I thought of a festival, and blueberries are my most favorite thing to eat. We wanted to involve more people in and around Wellborn, so a Blueberry Festival was born.

Jack Berry was the first chairman of the Blueberry Festival. He did a fantastic job of promoting and advertising this event. He brought a lot of fun and excitement to this small town. Over 3,000 people came to this first festival. Commissioner George Skinner was the president of the WCA at that time.

Four blueberry growers took part in this event: Corky Gibbons, Al Steichen, Connie Bennett and Don Sivyer. They donated berries for pies and also provided plants and berries for sale to the public. We appreciated the time and effort they went to, to help us. We thank them so much; we couldn’t have done it without them.

Ronnie McKinley and The Justin Case Band entertained all afternoon. We were lucky to have Jennifer Morrison to sing for us. Other wonderful entertainers followed.

The first Little Miss Blueberry was Cassie Green (she just happens to be my granddaughter). She was 8 years old, and now she is 23. The first festival was on the 6th of June, which is her birthday. I told her the festival was a birthday party for her, and we had invited the whole state to come to it. She thought it was true – for a few years, anyway. Blueberry dolls were handmade and given to the three top winners of the contest. The dolls were not sold; you had to win one to get one.

We had so many vendors that wanted to participate, we had to stop taking applications and set a deadline. The first emcee was Mr. Godbold from the radio station in St. Augustine. He gave us a lot of airtime for advertising.

The country store was a huge success. The pies and crafts were sold out by lunchtime. Also in the country store was a jam and jelly demonstration by Mrs. Marie Norris. The pie-eating contest was very cool and colorful, and also very funny to watch. The pies were eaten without the help of the contestants’ hands. Everyone had blue and white faces covered with blueberries and whipped cream.

A grand friend of mine, the Rev. Wyatt Martin, wrote this lovely poem for the festival. He is no longer with us. The poem follows, in loving memory of him.





I, myself, cannot forget June 7, 1997 and I need to say a little of what I saw and felt that day.

The little town of Wellborn is peaceful and fair.

On June 7, 1997 people were all over the square.

What was the reason? It’s blueberry season and the Blueberry Festival of ‘97 was that day.



The scene spread out before my eyes.

I noticed food booths where smoke did rise.

Then I thought of Jerusalem and the Passover Festival and how Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives and looked at Jerusalem with her roads and byways studded with pilgrims.

I looked at the beautiful automobiles of all colors shining and bright.

None such in Jerusalem, but that was all right.



Wellborn rose like a capital city. She was dressed like a proud daughter of Suwannee.

Oh, I saw Wellborn in her pride and she seemed to say, “I sit like a queen, even if only for a day.”

She also seemed to say, “I see no sorrow today and I feel no pain.”



In full view were buildings of yesteryear and they seemed to say, “We are the pride of another day.”

Who could gaze upon this festival scene without a thrill of joy, appreciation and admiration?



So with this I close this piece . . .

I truly hope and pray that, through it all, God chooses Wellborn for a place of his habitation.

— The Rev. Wyatt Martin, Pastor, Mt. Olive 72 Baptist Church