H*5258 Resolution, By Kennedy, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, 
Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowers, 
Bradley, Brannon, G.A. Brown, R.L. Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, 
Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cole, Collins, Corley, H.A. Crawford, Crosby, Daning, 
Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Fry, 
Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, 
Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hicks, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, 
Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, 
Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McKnight, 
M.S. McLeod, W.J. McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, 
Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, 
Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, 
G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, 
Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Tinkler, Toole, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, 
Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA POULTRY FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN BATESBURG-LEESVILLE ON MAY 12-14,
 2016, AND TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO PLAN AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PHENOMENAL
 FESTIVAL.

   04/21/16  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 6)

TO CELEBRATE THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA POULTRY FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN BATESBURG-LEESVILLE ON MAY 12-14, 2016, AND TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO PLAN AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PHENOMENAL FESTIVAL.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is delighted to learn that the towns of Batesburg-Leesville will once again produce the enchanting South Carolina Poultry Festival from May 12 through 14, 2016, culminating three decades of showcasing the region's significant poultry industry; and

Whereas, employing thousands of citizens, South Carolina's billion-dollar poultry industry annually produces, processes, and markets vast amounts of eggs, broilers, turkeys, pigeons, quail, and spring chickens; and

Whereas, Lexington, Saluda, and Aiken counties provide some of the state's top broiler producers, including such household names as Amick Farms, Columbia Farms, and Gentry's Poultry Company; and

Whereas, in 1986, Batesburg-Leesville restaurant owner Sara Shealy hatched the idea of a poultry festival based in Lexington County to showcase the state's largest agri-business, and the Leesville Merchants Association created a festival from her proposal; and

Whereas, one year later, the Ridge Poultry Festival was held, hosting approximately twenty thousand visitors. The event became the South Carolina Poultry Festival in 1989, and in recent years its attendance has exceeded one hundred thousand; and

Whereas, today the festival features six stages offering continuous entertainment, thirty food vendors, a carnival, a parade with well over one hundred ten units, and more than thirty commercial vendors and one hundred twenty crafters; and

Whereas, proceeds from the festival regularly support various local charities, organizations, and community causes, and the event showcases famous Southern hospitality and the best of delectable Southern dishes while hosting the festival's own "#1 World's Best Chicken Cooking Contest"; and

Whereas, annually guests anticipate with great expectation an impressive antique car and collector show, a five-kilometer road race, a volleyball tournament, a corn-toss tournament, amusement rides, and evening street dancing; and

Whereas, the return of the team ghost riders, a pack of dogs with monkeys riding astride to herd sheep, is sure to entertain and amuse the crowds again; and

Whereas, this year, the festival will also introduce a fascinating exhibit and show of antique tractors; and

Whereas, a spectacular display of the American spirit will conclude the festival on Saturday evening in one of the largest pyro-musical shows available in the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives commend the planners and participants of the thirtieth annual South Carolina Poultry Festival and appreciate the significant and beneficial impact of the poultry industry on the palates and the economy of the Palmetto State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the South Carolina Poultry Festival to be held in Batesburg-Leesville on May 12-14, 2016, and honor all those who plan and participate in this phenomenal festival.