Every summer, in the Worcester County town of Snow Hill, the rumble of farm machinery fills the air – not in the fields, but in the center of town.
It's a celebration of Eastern Shore farmers and the machines that help feed America.
Delmarva Public Media's Brian Shane was there as the town honored the event's 25th anniversary.
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Here in Snow Hill's Storybook downtown, hundreds of people packed the sidewalks, kids perched on shoulders [and] everyone is waving miniature American flags - standing by for a spectacle that happens just once a year.
"And the moment, you have been waiting for the one and only combine. Let's hear it! Let's hear it for these wonderful machines!"
Coming around the corner, towering over buildings, they have tires bigger than I am; it's a convoy of combine harvesters. Mechanical beasts you'd normally see gobbling up wheat, corn, and soybeans in the field. Today, I'm watching a parade of them chugging proudly into the heart of downtown.
"Let's get ready to rumble! Fire 'em up!"
They're polished to a showroom shine; red for the brand Caseih International, green for John Deere. When they stop, the crowd lowers their heads for the invocation from Pastor Ken Ellison.
"We're thankful today for a town that still acknowledges you and they'll come together like this in order to ask your blessings on our farmers!"
This one of a kind hometown event is the "blessing of the combines". This year, marks a milestone: 25 years in Snow Hill.
"Except for COVID, we've been here every year."
That's Becky Payne, and not only did she dream up this event, she's been running it ever since. It started back in 1998 when Becky and a few friends were sitting around one day.
"We just decided the farmers needed some recognition. We came up with all sorts of equipment, but then we thought the combines would be beautiful. I talked it over with my dad who had the Western Auto and the farmers would come in and have coffee with him in the mornings. And I said, dad, what do you think? And he said, I think you should go talk to the farmers. And I did. And they kind of cocked their eyebrows a little bit and said, I really think that [you've lost your mind, but we'll do it because we know you.]"
This year's guest of honor was Jim Purdue. Yes. That Purdue - Chairman of one of America's biggest poultry producers.
"Well I think the beauty of this event is it's grassroots. It's started by a farmer and their family, and I think they wanted to celebrate hope for a great harvest, which is so important to farmers. I don't think many places in the United States do this. This is somewhat unique and that I think is very typical of the Eastern Shore celebrating things like the combines."
The blessing has grown into something bigger than anyone had anticipated. It feels like a block party, a harvest festival, and homecoming all rolled into one. There's food, vendors, hay rides, a car show, and even a marching band.
"Well, my mom started this when I was 12. We started with just a few combines on Green Street."
That's Kirby Brewington. Her mom is Becky Payne.
"Growing up in this and seeing it grow has just been an amazing family event. People from out of state come. It's just great to see it grow every year and everybody really like our farming heritage and know the importance of farming."
"I'm amazed at how it's grown - It's gone from about 500 people [to] last year -they thought 6,000. This year, I think it's past 6,000.It's the whole community, yes."
For Snow Hill, this grassroots celebration has grown as deep as the farming roots it honors. For Delmarva Public Media. I'm Brian Shane.
