opportunities oktibbeha co. growth progress community betsey smith forum leadership january 2009

Opportunities oKtibbeha Co.growTh prOgress Community

Betsey SmithFORUM Leadership

January 2009

Oktoc History

• Oktoc is an unincorporated community in Oktibbeha County, MS. It was once known as “The Dairy Capital of the South.”

Dairy Farms

• Oktoc is now home to several defunct dairy farms including Oak Ayr and Mactoc Farms, the largest two in the community.

Community Club• Oktoc has the oldest community club in the

State and has not missed one single meeting since its beginning in 1927.

Oktoc Community Center

• Oktoc Garden Club – 1923• Oktoc Community Club

– 1927• Merger – Vernon Presbyterian

Church– One room schoolhouse

Location• Southeast portion of

Oktibbeha County• Located approximately

12 miles southeast of Starkville

Oktoc Annual Festival

• Fall of each year• Sponsored by the Oktoc Garden Club• Proceeds go toward the community club.• Items sold: Brunswick Stew, fresh vegetables, and

homemade goodies• Hay rides and painting pumpkins available to all,

especially children• Live music provided for entertainment (blue-

grass)

Community Center during a meeting years ago (date unsure)

Members square dancing after a program

The two buildings before they were joined together

One of three Womanless Weddings that has been held

Photos - women

1925 county-wide Garden Club meeting at the Noxubee swimming hole

1932 women with rakes – planting Oktoc roadsides?

Photos: Christmas activities

Christmas trees were HUGE!

And kids enjoyed decorating them!

References• Anna Marie Raspberry (personal communication, January 5, 2009)• Fred and Velma Blocker (personal communication, January 5, 2009)• Wikipedia. Retrieved January 5, 2009, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoc,_Mississippi• Hawkins, Brian. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from

http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/24008/106/