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Welcome to the 43rd

Annual

Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

Presented by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Grand Bay Lodge #73 and Martha Rebekah Lodge #29

Festival Chairman Monnie Tripp

Events Coordinator Patty Tripp

Queens Coordinator Sarah Shields

2015 Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Queens

We want you to be sure to enjoy all the sliced ice cold Grand Bay Watermelon you can eat

& have a wonderful time!

A SPECIAL THANKS!

We would like to thank the entire community for their support and encouragement of

Grand Bay Lodge #73 and Martha Rebekah Lodge #29. We would like to thank Greer’s,

who is celebrating over 100 years in business, Sunny South Raceway, The Connection,

The Persuaders, and Cart Doctor for their sponsorships; all of our program advertisers;

The Mobile Bay Mustang Club; local TV and Radio Stations; Farmers who donated

watermelons; all of the volunteers; and to anyone who helped in any way. Please support

all of our advertisers and sponsors with your business. They really care about our

community. To be a sponsor, or advertise in our program, visit our web site:

www.grandbaywatermelonfestival.org

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STAGE PERFORMANCE AREA

July 3rd

3:00 – 4:30 Music by – Foundation Band

4:30 – 6:00 Music by – The McCray’s

6:00 – 7:00 Community Worship Service Guest Speaker Dr. Wade Ivey

*Entertainment, Food, and Vendors open 3-6 pm

July 4th

Master of Ceremonies – Sarah Shields

Chairman of the 43rd

Watermelon Festival –

Monnie Tripp

8:30: Flag Ceremony

National Anthem

Invocation – Dr. Royce DuBose,

Pastor, First Baptist Church Grand Bay

Welcome Address – Jerry Carl,

Mobile County Commissioner, District 3

8:45: Presentation of Festival Queens

9:30: Music – Line Dancing

10:00: Hope Puppets

11:00: Music by – The Persuaders

12:00: Recognition of Special Guests:

Oldest Person Present

Person Who Traveled the Furthest (to get here)

Judging (at Gazebo):

Largest Watermelon

Best Carved Watermelon

Melon Auction

12:30: Music by – The Persuaders

2:30: Car Show Trophy Presentation – provided by:

3:00: Music by – The Persuaders

4:00: Closing Ceremony

ENTERTAINMENT both days Mechanical Bull Train rides

Rockwall Climb Pony Rides

Bungy Jump Petting Zoo

Goldfish Pond Meltdown

Water Balls Gyro Bounce Houses

AREA ACTIVITIES July 4th

8:45: Pretty Baby Contestants Line up (inside main building)

9:00: Pretty Baby Contest Begins

10:00: Pretty Baby Winners Announced

11:00: Races and Games - Watermelon Carry

Race, 3 Legged Race, Potato Sack Race, Hula

Hoop Competition – Locations to be announced.

1:00: Seed Spitting Contest (inside main building)

1:15: Corn Hole Toss Team Competition (inside

main building) $1.00 Admission, $4 per Team

2:00: Watermelon Eating Contest –

Watermelon cutting area.

OPEN CAR SHOW July 4th

8:00 – 2:30: Shine and Show

Voting by People’s Choice for 1st, 2

nd, and 3

rd

Place

And Queen’s Choice

43rd

Annual Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

Schedule of Events

Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

Sponsors:

Greer’s Markets and Cash Savers

celebrating over 100 Years

Sunny South Raceway

The Connection

The Persuaders

Cart Doctor

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NOT TO SCALE Vendor and Attraction Areas are closed to vehicle traffic during Festival times: 2:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on

July 3rd, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on July 4th.

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Please Take the Time

To Remember Our

Men & Women

Who Are Serving Our Country

So That We May Be Free.

“Freedom is not free.”

Thank you to all of our Veterans!!

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2016 GRAND BAY WATERMELON FESTIVAL QUEENS

Queens by age group:

16 – 18 Year Old Queen – Lauren Ashley Greathouse

13 – 15 Year Old Queen – Hannah Freeland

10 – 12 Year Old Queen – Elizabeth Dunsford

7 – 9 Year Old Queen – Maddox Lavelle

4 – 6 Year Old Queen –Vivian Wood

FESTIVAL QUEEN is: Lauren Ashley Greathouse

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Who we are: The Independent Order Of Odd Fellows And Rebekahs

The IOOF was 197 years old in April. Grand Bay Lodge #73 was formed in 1873. The charter was

at Freeland Lane in downtown Grand Bay. The Lodge Charter was renewed in 1984 and is now

located at Grand Bay Odd Fellows Festival Park.

MOTTO:

“Friendship, Love, Truth”

ODD FELLOW VALEDICTION

I AM AN ODD FELLOW:

I believe in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man;

I believe in Friendship, Love and Truth as basic guides to the ultimate destiny of all

mankind;

I believe my home, my church or temple, my lodge, and my community deserve my best

work, my modest pride, my earnest faith, and my deepest loyalty, as I perform my duty “to visit the

sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan” and as I work with others to build

a better world, because, in spirit and in truth, I am and must always be, grateful to my Creator,

faithful to my country and fraternal to my fellow-man;

I AM AN ODD FELLOW!

REBEKAH CREED

I AM A REBEKAH:

I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the Sisterhood of woman.

I believe in the watch-words of our Order - Friendship, Love and Truth.

Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. Love - is one of our most precious

gifts, the more you give, the more you receive. Truth - is the standard by which we value people. It

is the foundation of our society.

I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach

out to my community and the World, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters.

I AM A REBEKAH!

If you would like information about joining the Odd Fellows or the Rebekah’s please contact any

member, or:

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Grand Bay Lodge #73 Martha Rebekah Lodge #29

P.O. Box 72 P.O. Box 1022

Grand Bay, AL 36541 Grand Bay, AL 36541

Noble Grand, Bratton McGregor Noble Grand, Patty Tripp

Ph. 251-865-3456

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Congratulations to the

Grand Bay Lodge #73

and Martha Rebekah Lodge #29

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) For all their efforts to make this year’s Festival a success!

Grand Master – Brother Butch Barginear

Rebekah President – Sister Sarrah Cheatwood

I.O.O.F State Executive Officers

A Special Thank You

Thanks to everyone for all of your support and encouragement. May God bless each of you, your community, our state, and our nation.

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Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Grand Bay Lodge #73 Officers

Noble Grand Bratton McGregor

Past Noble Grand Sean Beatty Vice Grand Troy Perry

Secretary Ralph Bosarge

Treasurer Monnie Tripp

Chaplain Fletcher Hayes

Trustees Monnie Tripp

Ed Holifield

Fletcher Hayes

Martha Rebekah Lodge #29 Officers

Noble Grand Patty Tripp

Past Noble Grand Etta Sullivan Vice Grand Sarah Shields

Secretary Judi Miller Poiroux

Treasurer Kasandra Pace

Chaplain Kelli Bratton

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Jerry Carl is new to the business of political service, but an old hand at the business of making

successful businesses. A native of Mobile, the District 3 Mobile County Commissioner has started, built

and sold numerous businesses. His professional experience, along with an abiding interest in the welfare

of his community, brought him into the realm of public service. Mr. Carl is representative of the vast

southern district of Mobile County, stretching from Mobile Bay to downtown Mobile and Grand Bay.

The commissioner continues to manage his businesses. A sampling of his entrepreneurial efforts

during his 30-year career includes: Manufacturing/Church furniture; Wholesale Sales/Independent Sales

Rep group of Home Medical Equipment and Funeral Home supplies; Retail Sales/Open 20 plus retail

locations supplying Home Medical Equipment and Supplies across multiple states/Pharmacy's

specializing in Inhalation Solutions and bleeding disorders.; Timber sales & management/Cricket &

Butterfly, LLC; and Developer / Developed River Oaks subdivision in Orrville, AL, as well as West Side

Park a commercial office development on Schillinger Road.

But his proudest accomplishment is being married to his wife, Tina, for more than 30 years, raising his

three kids, focusing on his four grandchildren and service as a deacon at his Luke 4:18 Church. Other

service work includes church missions as far away as Africa. For leisure, Mr. Carl enjoys the outdoors

with a dose of adventure. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, skydiver, scuba diver, and an airplane pilot.

REPRESENTATIVE

DAVID SESSIONS

(R)

105th District

(Mobile)

State House: 11 South Union Street

Suite 526-F

Montgomery, AL 36130

(334) 242-0947

District: 13000 Hugh Fort Road

Grand Bay, AL. 36541

Home Phone:

Cell Phone

Fax:

(251) 865-4275

(251) 490-0117

(251) 865-9565

Email: d.r.sessions@att.net

Representative David Sessions was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in a special

election held on May 10, 2011. He graduated from Mobile County High School in 1978 and is a farmer

and co-owner of Sessions Farms, a diversified family farming operation in South Mobile County.

Representative Sessions currently serves as President of Grand Bay Water Works, and Producers Gin Co.

LLC. Additionally, he serves as a supervisor on the board of the Mobile County Soil and Water

Conservation District. He is past President of the Alabama Pecan Growers Association. Representative

Sessions is married to Lisa Driskell Sessions and they have three children. He and his family attend First

Baptist Church in Grand Bay.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Grand Bay Lodge #73 thanks both County Commissioner Carl

and Representative Sessions for their service to our community and the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

JERRY CARL

District 3

(South Mobile County)

Commission President (251) 574-3000

Email: district3web@mobile-county.net

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Rent our Facilities for your next event –

Family or Class Reunion, Birthday Party, Wedding/Reception,

Dance, Company or Holiday Party, or any other ‘Get-Together’

Lovely Gazebo (with electricity)

Large Party Room

with Stage

Handicap Accessible

Call us at 251-865-3456

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History of the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

Grand Bay had its first Watermelon Festival on June 29, 1949 at Mobile County High School. The

sponsoring organization was the Grand Bay Chamber of Commerce with support from all the area

farmers. That first year was a great success and the festival was under the reign of Queen Mary

Margaret Kinnan and Ladies-in-Waiting were Aurelia Castlen and Kathleen Saucier. A special edition

of the Gulf Coast Farmer published by the Mobile County Farm Bureau was dedicated to the Grand

Bay Festival. Some interesting stories were in this issue and provided amusing data about Grand Bay

in 1949. Grand Bay was about to get full phone service, a project that was started in 1943.

Construction had started on the Union Church to Grand Bay Road (now called Grand Bay-Wilmer Rd.)

and the Grand Bay-Bayou la Batre Road was in the planning stages. The Chamber of Commerce was

making plans to build a community swimming pool; unfortunately it was never built. Mention was also

made of farm oriented clubs and organizations. The Watermelon Festival continued for many years off

and on then died out. In 1974 the Grand Bay Jaycees revived it as an annual tradition. Somewhere

during the counting of the annual festivals the count was accidently changed and an ‘annual year’ was

added. In 1998 the Grand Bay Independent Order of Odd Fellows Grand Bay Lodge #73 took over

with the 25th

Annual and we continue it today, making the 2016 Grand Bay Watermelon Festival the

43rd

still honoring the farmers in Grand Bay as well as the delicious watermelon.

1st Annual Grand Bay Watermelon Festival – 1974

1974 Queen Priscilla Wright and her Court

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History and pictures from the 1974 Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Program

AT RIGHT ARE

scenes from

festivals of the

past. In the upper

photo is a view of

the Watermelon

Queen as she

watches maids

serve a veteran at

the VA facility in

Biloxi. The lower

photo is a similar

scene from

another year.

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For Booking

Foundation

Band Contact:

Levi Seymour

251-421-9197

The McCrays and Foundation Band – playing for our entertainment at the

Grand Bay Watermelon Festival on Sunday, July 3rd.

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The Persuaders wish each of you a Happy 4th of July!! We hope you enjoy our music and eat lots of good watermelon!!

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Pizza Pro of Irvington

Located inside

Palmer’s Quick Stop

C-Pak Grocery 8755 Grand Bay-Wilmer Road Grand Bay, AL 36541 251-865-6492

Palmer’s Grocery 8989 Hwy. 90 West St. Elmo, AL 36544 251-957-6471

MasterCard – Visa – Discover – American Express

Gasoline – Diesel – Oil Products

THE BEST PRICE FOR GAS & CIGARETTES

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Around the Corner or Around the World

WE DELIVER

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251-824-2500 Fax 251-824-7131 Hours 11am – 9pm Monday - Friday

CRUISE-IN First Monday of Each Month

March thru December Starts at 5:00 p.m. until

Music by: Mobile Bay Mustang Club

Great Food at The Lighthouse

COME ON OUT!!! Have Fun With Us!

The Lighthouse Restaurant Fresh Seafood “Our Specialty”

12495 Padgett Switch Irvington, AL 36544 COOTIE & KENDALL STORK OWNERS

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GRAND BAY

FEED & SEED

12420 HWY 90 W., GRAND BAY, AL 36542 PH. 251/865-0203 FAX 251/865-1433

FEED – SEED – PLANTS

FERTILIZER – FENCE SUPPLIES

FARM EQUIPMENT

HARDWARE

MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM SATURDAY 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

THANKS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT

IRVINGTON FOODMART GRAND BAY FOODMART CHEVRON CHEVRON 9436 IRVINGTON BLB HWY 13320 HWY 90 IRVINGTON, AL 36544 GRAND BAY, AL 36541 251-957-1410 251-865-1620

HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA SUNDAY SKILLET

FRIED CHICKEN

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

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FLETCHER’S FARM

10301 Foots Rd.

Grand Bay, AL 36541

Phone: 251-824-7465

251-421-5569-Cell

Bayou Construction Company, Inc. Builder of:

Remodeling

Custom Homes

Light Commercial

Licensed – Insured – Bonded

Over 35 Years’ Experience

For More Information contact

(251) 824-2664

Jarra, Randy, and Bob

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Kid's Watermelon Strawberry Shake

Easy to find and now affordable home ice cream machines and popsicle sleeves

make for a great dessert.

Strawberry Shake Ingredients:

8 ounces lemon nonfat yogurt

2 cups cubed, seedless watermelon

1 pint fresh strawberries, cleaned and hulled

1 medium banana, peeled and sliced

Strawberry Shake Pop

Strawberry Shake

Small paper cups

Popsicle Sticks

Strawberry Shake Instructions:

In blender or food processor, process yogurt, watermelon, strawberries and banana until smooth and frothy.

Serve immediately.

Frozen Smoothie Pops Instructions:

Pour prepared Watermelon Strawberry Shake into small paper cups. Freeze, inserting popsicle sticks or

plastic spoons when mixture is partially frozen. Or, pour Watermelon Strawberry Shake into ice cream

machine. Set and enjoy!

Servings: Makes 4 servings.

Watermelon Rind Slaw While half of some fruits are tossed when you throw away the seeds or the peel, all

of the watermelon can be used. Save your rinds and make this yummy slaw. Besides,

the rind is packed with citrulline and arginine, two compounds that aid in healthy

blood flow!

Ingredients

Dressing 1/4 cup fat-free, plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

1 1/2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard 2 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar dash salt and pepper (to taste)

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Slaw 4 cups grated watermelon rind with fruit and green peel removed

1 cup grated carrot

1 1/2 cups diced fresh pineapple

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, blend dressing thoroughly Set aside.

2. Place watermelon rind on several layers of paper towels to soak up excess fluid.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, Place dressing, rind, carrot, and pineapple and toss to thoroughly coat. Serve.

Servings: Makes 4 one-cup servings.

Nutrition: Serving size: 1 cup

Calories per serving: 122; Fat per serving: 4g; Saturated Fat per serving: 1.5g; Fiber per serving: 3.3g

- See more at: http://www.watermelon.org/Recipes

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Pages/Ads Index:

Inside front cover – Mamun Re/Max Partners

1 – Welcome to the 43rd

Annual Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

2 – Schedule of Events

3 – Map of the Park

4 – Take Time to Remember – Freedom is not free

5 – 2016 Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Queen’s

6 – Who we are: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and Rebekahs

7 – IOOF State of Alabama Executive Officers: Grand Master and Rebekah President

8 – IOOF Lodge #73 Officers and Martha Rebekah Lodge #29 Officers

9 – County Commissioner Jerry Carl and Representative David Sessions

10 – Rent our Facilities

11 – History of the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival

12 – History and pictures from the 1974 Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Program

13 – Greer’s – Celebrating 100 years

14 – The McCrays, Foundation Band

15 – The Persuaders

16 – ALFA Insurance

17 – KaLeve’s DeSalon, Dezauche Vintage Boutique & Gifts, Vickie Gilley Photography, First United

Methodist Church, Kimon Brown and Aleta Boudreaux – Azalea Real Estate, Grand Bay Community

Center, and Spanish Translator Susan Rodriguez

18 – Palmers Quick Stop, C-Pak Grocery, Palmer’s Grocery

19 – Southern Rose Florist, Seams Right Sewing & Alternations, Tom’s Barber Shop & Antiques,

Emma’s Kitchen, Presley’s and the Boathouse Restaurant

20 – Century Bank

21 – Cart Dr., Eddie’s Wholesale Jewelry

22 – Sessions Farm, Grand Bay Pharmacy, Coastal Ready Mix, LLC, Esfeller Construction

23 – Charlie’s Classic Cars, The Lighthouse Restaurant, Southeastern Press, Inc.

24 – Irvington Foodmart, Grand Bay Foodmart, Grand Bay Feed & Seed, McGregor Farms

25 – St. Elmo Feed & Seed, Shore Acres Plant Farm, Inc., Patricia’s Hair Salon & Gifts, Mali’s Nails Spa,

The Connection Newspaper

26 – Time To Eat, Grand Bay Dental, First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, C&D Tires, Bay Auto Supply,

David Parnell – Palmer’s Airport Toyota, Gulf Coast Attorneys, LLC, Southern Farm Equipment

27 – Fletcher’s Farm, Bayou Construction Company, Inc.

28 – Kid’s Watermelon Strawberry Shake, Watermelon Rind Slaw

29 – Watermelon and Frosting with Sprinkles on top,

30 – Children’s J. Slice Fun Page

31 – Index Page

32 – Notes for you or Suggestion to the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Committee

Inside Back Cover – Mostellar Medical Center

Outside Back Cover – Lisa Turrentine Insurance Agency, Inc., State Farm

Grand Bay Lodge #73 and Martha Rebekah Lodge #29 of the Independent

Order of Odd Fellows are proud to present our Sponsors and Advertisers. We

thank them for supporting us and request that you please support them with

your business!

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Notes for you or Suggestions to the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival Committee:

If you have Suggestions for next year’s Grand Bay Watermelon Festival please turn this page in to the

Information Booth, a Lodge member, or mail to: Grand Bay Lodge #73, P.O. Box 72, Grand Bay, AL

36541. You can also contact us through our website: www.grandbaywatermelonfestival.org, or follow us on

Facebook – Grand Bay Watermelon Festival. We welcome your suggestions and compliments.