Ox roast funds keep coming in

SCOTTVILLE — Business owner Richard Cox told the Scottville City Commission Monday night that donations for the Harvest Festival ox roast keep coming in. Two weeks ago, Cox, owner of Cox’s Sales and Service, along with Roy and Linda Holden of Holden’s Home Emporium and Kelly Abrahamson of Pizza Barn Plus, spoke at the city commission meeting about their concern that the ox roast and the carnival were not scheduled this year. The ox roast tradition began in 1910.

The Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival, stated in a press release that it was unable to raise the funds for the ox roast. In recent years the chamber has had difficulty booking a carnival with a good reputation. Each year it receives multiple complaints from both sides of the argument, those who want the carnival and those who don’t.

Cox decided to spearhead booking a carnival and raising funds for the ox roast.

To date over $3,750 has been raised for the free ox roast that needs about $1,600 to operate. Much of the money is used to build a cooking pit every year. Cox said an account is being set up as a contingency to assure that ox roasts will be held in the future. He said ideally, the intent is to build a portable cooking unit that can be used permanently for the ox roast and the annual chicken barbecue held in July.

“The ox roast will be held in its normal place. We will also be using the beer tent where people can sit down and eat their sandwiches.”

He said several fundraisers have taken place and more are planned, including one at The Mitten Bar in downtown Ludington on Aug. 22. During that fundraiser, musicians Chad Rushing, Andrew Thomas and Zach Hubbard have offered to donate their time to perform. Rushing told MCP that several businesses and industries, including Flora Craft, have offered matching donations.

“Thanks to you and others who have done a lot of hard work,” Mayor Dick Macki told Cox. “It takes a little citizen involvement to get things going.”

The ox roast takes place on Thursday, Sept. 12. For more on Harvest Festival, click here.