Notes from town square: Building a community

Have you ever been to the Fellsmere Florida Frog Leg Festival or the Duck Tape Festival in Avon Ohio? How about the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw? America’s small-town festivals celebrate just about everything from the classic springtime cherry festivals scattered across the northwest, to somewhat more unique celebrations like the Bean Fest and the Great Championship Outhouse Race which takes place every October in Mountain View, Arkansas. Everyone knows that festivals are loads of fun but they also help rural communities create a sense of identity and community cohesion.

According to Robert...