Good Times August
Republic
Bluegrass & BBQ
Aug. 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m., All ages
Community Center
Admission is a donation of unscented baby wipes. Cost for food is extra.
More information: 417.732.5993
Enjoy No Reservations food truck; silent auction with items from local businesses; and bluegrass music from award-winning Lonesome Road and Chigger Creek. Benefits Republic Pregnancy Resource Center.
Mindenmines
Guided Bison Saunter
Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Prairie State Park
Registration: 417.843.6711
Take a guided, 2+ mile walk through Prairie State Park, catching up with bison along the way. Snacks and water are recommended. Limited to 25 people.
Mountain Grove
Mountain Grove Heritage Festival
Aug. 12-13, All ages, Free
Mtn. Grove City Square
The theme of this year’s Mtn. Grove Heritage Festival is “Trains, Planes and Antique Motorcycles,” honoring those modes of transportation from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Schedule includes displays of model trains, railroad history, antique motorcycles and a quilt show; a fly-in at the Mtn. Grove Municipal Airport; and a concert featuring Branson’s Liverpool Legends. Antique motorcycle clubs from St. Louis and Kansas City are scheduled to attend. More than 200 craft and food vendors are expected. Search “Mtn Grove Heritage Festival” on Facebook.
Mansfield
Baker Creek August Festival
Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Free
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
Enjoy garden and greenhouse tours, vendors, speakers, and entertainment. Seed store, restaurant, bakery, and other shops will be open. Vendors will sell plants and many varieties of handmade crafts.
Branson
Sycamore Creek Barn Dance
Aug. 19, 7-10 p.m., Sycamore Creek Family Ranch
Tickets: sycamorecreekfamilyranch.com/
Gather together for a fun night of country dancing, with dance instruction for Texas two-step, swing dance, line dance, and more. The Sycamore Creek Pizza Co food truck opens at 6:30 p.m.
Ozark
Beehive Check
Aug. 20, 10-11:30 a.m., 18+, $25
Finley Farms
Tickets: finleyfarmsmo.com
Those participating in the beehive check will suit up in protective gear before learning about the parts of the hive, how to handle frames and gaining insight on bee stages of development and their life cycles. Guests will also look at eggs and larvae, find queens, see how bees store nectar and honey, and see Farmer Liesel identify and address any hive problems in real-time.
Miller
Miller Fall Festival
Aug. 25-27
At the 72nd annual fall festival, enjoy entertainment at the Bandstand, crafts and booths, food, and Kenny’s Funland Carnival. Visit www.facebook.com/MillerFallFestival.Miller.MO for updates.
Collins
Collins Pie Festival
Aug. 27, All ages, Free
Visit Collins, Missouri, for a small town pie festival. Schedule includes a pie-eating contest, pie judging, car show, live music, cornhole tournament, vendors, raffle and activities for kids. Follow the event at facebook.com/collinspiefestival.
Springfield
Midweek Matinee: Forrest Gump
Aug. 31, 3 p.m.
Gillioz Theatre
Tickets: https://gillioztheatre.com/
Tom Hanks won Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of Forrest Gump in the 1994 film. If you are 60 years or older and live in Greene County, ask about the free combo ticket. (side note: My oldest sister watched this movie probably a gazillion times.)
That Thing You Eat: Make It Local
Homegrown is in our name.
Submit information about southwest Missouri farms to editor@homegrownjournal.com to be considered for future issues. Click the links below and like their Facebook pages.
BIG MEATS
BEEF
Republic, Missouri
Big Meats provides USDA certified, local beef that has been raised, processed and packaged in southwest Missouri. Purchase beef already cut and packaged, or buy a half or whole beef. Text or call Big Meats at 417.848.2100.
FASSNIGHT CREEK FARM
FRUIT, VEGETABLES
Springfield, Missouri
Fassnight Creek Farm has been producing vegetables, fruit and flowers for nearly 100 years. It is family owned and operated and grows many varieties of produce and flowers. In addition, they offer fruit and vegetables from outside the 417 area. Call the farm at 417.866.5011.
HILLSIDE HERD
PUMPKINS, GOURDS
Republic, Missouri
Hillside Herd is working hard in the garden to grow pumpkins, squash and other gourds for selling in late September at local festivals and farmers markets. Follow Hillside Herd at facebook.com/hillsideherd or visit its website at www.hillside-herd.com for locations and updates.
SPUR CREEK FARM
RAW MILK
Crane, Missouri
Spur Creek Farm sells raw milk and freeze dried treats, such as candy, fruit and ice cream. Purchases can be picked up at the farm or at a delivery location. For more information, Call Spur Creek Farm at 417.420.9777 or email spurcreekfarm.mo@gmail.com.
Safely Dispose of Drugs
I was overwhelmed when I was given the responsibility of overseeing my dad’s medications. I quickly became aware of the profound importance of being part of healthcare conversations earlier (doctors, hospitals make mistakes too). When it was time to dispose of it all, I had no idea what to do. I had read drugs (legal and otherwise) were ending up in our waterways, causing health issues for the entire food chain, including you and me and our pets.
Come to find out, in addition to national prescription drug take back days, local businesses offer year-round disposal. Visit hhs.gov/opioids and enter your zip code (or city) and state to find disposal sites near you. Some drugs are unable to be disposed of at the year-round disposal sites. More information can be learned at hhs.gov/opioids. I used cat litter for liquids.
Homegrown Journal 
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