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 There
was little room for doubt that Inola was Scott Walton country during
the annual Inola Hay Days festival.
The Spurlock family, leading the parade, brought out the spirit of
Hay Day when dozens of family members piled onto a hay filled
trailer and marshaled the festival. Even when it rained on the
parade, the people of Inola stayed out, huddling under tents and
canopies until the short-lived downpour passed and then it was back
to games and music and an abundant amount of fun.
Stephani Freeman of the Inola
Chamber of Commerce told reporters that this year's Inola Hay Day
was the largest in an estimated fifteen-years. "This year's
Hay Day has been a huge success," she said, adding that people came
"in droves" to Inola for the festival.
Walton and friends participated in the parade and had a booth set up
where festival goers continually flocked and walked away with hats,
tee-shirts, stickers, pens, pamphlets and took the opportunity to
spend a moment talking to Scott.
For out-of-towners the town might have looked like a Scott Walton
event because so many were wearing their Scott Walton tee-shirts and
ball caps. The parade was filled with Walton for Sheriff signs on
the back of race cars, work trucks, motorcycles and even a miniature
John Deere tractor. From the young to the seasoned, fans of Scott
Walton were present in any direction one could look.
One little Inola girl whom everyone knows as “Boo,” explained Hay
Days to a friend this way: “...it's when everyone in Inola comes to
help Scott Walton.”
 Another
youngster was 'pulling for Scott' as he paraded Inola in a homemade
John Deere tractor complete with a Walton for Sheriff sign. “These
kids are great,” Walton said, “there no way anyone could be in my
position and not just feel completely blessed when there's so many
good people out there helping and pulling to get the job done; these
kids are the perfect icing on the cake.”
“One young man out here has earned some bragging rights and I am
proud that he's supporting my candidacy,” Scott said. Mason
Waldvogel is a high school student in Inola and he's an accomplished
young man who's definitely going places.
Mason is a Junior in high school. He was nominated by the Cherkoee
Nation to serve as one of seven speakers in the nation for Learn and
Serve America. Learn and Serve America is an excellent educational
opportunity sponsored by the Cherokee Nation. Members of the program
use what they learn in the classroom and apply it in real-life
situations. Students become contributing members of their community.
Through Learn and Serve, Mason has traveled to Minnesota and New
York City. He also experienced the democratic process by serving on
the campaign of Senator Sean Burrage.
A traveling carnival came to town, giving kids a chance to ride the
rides and stuff themselves on corn dogs and funnel cakes. “This
festival could be named anything but when it comes down to it, it's
all about neighbors and friends coming together,” said Walton. “I'm
glad that me and my family got to be a part of it.”
Click Here to see Hay Day
Photos! |
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