Is there a child who doesn’t want to ride a pony? From all indications there isn’t. I’m basing this on my seat at my book table at the 13th Annual Red Gate Festival and Rodeo this past weekend, and by the way, my latest book is here - More Tales from the Hills and Hollows of East Tennessee.

Billingsway Farm of Wytheville, Virginia brought their ponies and set up for this festival. From about 4:30pm to dark, little ones lined up with a parent or grandparent who had brought these little ones for a pony ride–or maybe a return for a second ride.

This is a regional event with people attending from surrounding counties and even out of state. The food was good, and the potato curls and blooming onions were of cowboy size portions as were those snow cones. Being prone to fat, I hoped for smaller portions. As you might surmise, I cleaned my plate.

The weather certainly cooperated, and the setting was magnificent.

Many of the children came all decked out for the occasion–the boots, the jeans, the Western shirts and hats. It was a sweet scene to see the excitement of what may have been a first pony ride. Since I was “manning” my book table, I didn’t see the Rodeo. From all indications it must have been really good. It was a standing room only, sell out crowd for this family event.

Many thanks to Kayla Reynolds for the pictures.