“May God bless our Delmarva farmers with a bountiful harvest.” That is the literal Blessing of the Combines by proclamation. The actual event, however, is so much more. It is an annual Snow Hill, Maryland tradition and full-fledged community-wide celebration, honoring area agriculture and local farmers for more than two decades and counting.
How It All Started
Early ideas surrounding the establishment of the Blessing of the Combines event can be traced back to the late 1990s. It started with the members of the Payne family who, in 1998, were trying to envision a way of acknowledging their appreciation for and blessing area farmers. Given how the Delmarva region has such a deep-rooted, albeit often overlooked history and heritage “engrained” in farming and agriculture, it was both appropriate and necessary to find a fitting way of garnering local farm families with the public praise and appreciation they were long overdue for.
With the formation of an organized committee of like-minded folks in Snow Hill, plans were eventually drawn out, agrarian decorations were implemented, and large farming Combines made the trek from the field to Downtown Snow Hill for the ultimate pre-harvest season party. While there were doubts early on about how successful the first inaugural Blessing of the Combines celebration would be, the resulting success of the event and its continued growth and popularity as an annual mainstay ever since speak volumes.
More than 20 years later, Snow Hill’s Blessing of the Combines continues shining brightly as the ultimate acknowledgment of agricultural appreciation. The same small committee established long ago continues its commitment to making this event possible every summer under the direction of the still-actively involved Becky Payne serving as Chairwoman.
What the Event Is
While the blessing ceremony and parade procession remain the anchoring highlight attractions, the all-encompassing Blessing of the Combines celebration embodies that of a quaint daylong community family-fun festival that packs plentiful pleasantries and endeavors into the mix.
The setup for the day consists of many hands-on activities for kids and families in particular—fun follies for all ages. Their onsite petting zoo, for instance, is one of the most popular must-do experiences. And free pony rides are always in demand, along with all those fun games like Flip-A-Chick and more. Don’t forget about the hay rides to be offered or the special Peddle Tractor Pull just for kids!
Do be sure to check out the multiple vendors who will be coming out for the day. These will comprise an array of local area businesses presenting versatile products, services, and promotions. There will also be plenty of delicious food vendors doling out delightful concessions to suit any palate.
Live entertainment will keep the scene buzzing all through the day. With the smooth stylings of local singing/performing legend Eric Tobiassen plus the beat-filled bounty of the renowned local variety band Country Line, what more could you ask for?
Don’t forget that the Wheels that Heal Car Show will also be going on the day of. Established in 2003, the Wheels That Heal Car Club is a nonprofit organization based in Salisbury, Maryland known for hosting car shows and special events to benefit local charities and families in need. Click here to learn more about them.
This Year’s Offerings and Events
Being able to rely on those familiar, mainstay traditions that are such a part of the Blessing of the Combines each year is one of the best things about the event. Even so, each year is unique in its own right.
This year’s Blessing of the Combines will get underway on Saturday, August 3, at 10 a.m.—the official opening and start time for most slated events on location throughout the Downtown Snow Hill area. Steve Hales will set things off as the festival announcer, assisted by Hailey Renshaw. Grayson Laird will be serving as the Parade Master of Ceremonies.
The Parade of Combines will commence at 11 a.m., led by the Snow Hill Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corp (SHJROTC) Color Guard. Rachel Leigh Deao will get spirits soaring with a singing of the National Anthem. Snow Hill Mayor Janet Simpson and Commissioner Ted Elder will lead the welcoming ceremonies, and Steve Hales will recognize special guests and provide speaker introductions. Zach Evans of Mountaire Farms is the keynote speaker for 2024.
The official “blessing” and prayer ceremony will be offered by the Snow Hill Ministerial Association (a group of area church ministers). The drivers who will be taking the wheel of participating Combines this year will include Oren Perdue, Brent Ennis, William Figgs, Brad Hauck, Lee Holloway, Anthony and Josh Kurtz, Logan Lambertson, Ben Merritt, Buster Powell, Marcus Robins, David Shockley, Jack Shockley, and Roland Thornes. The Combines will depart the scene at 3 p.m. You can view the program guide in its entirety here.
There will be a new parking plan implemented for this year’s installment of the Blessing of the Combines. Click here for all the details you will need to know.
The Blessing of the Combines truly is a unique, one-of-a-kind community happening unlike any other, anywhere in this world. Discover it all for yourself this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by taking part in this most beloved community tradition. To learn more, visit www.blessingofthecombines.org.