The Pickford community is looking to the future as it celebrates its "Hay Days." The theme of this year's Pickford Hay Days festival Wednesday, July 29, through Sunday, August 2, is "Pickforward Picture Future Pickford."

Organizers are using this platform to create discussion and interest in how to develop the community over the next several decades.

"We are asking citizens to ponder the future," said Hay Days chairman Richard Morrison. "What will life in our small town be like in 20 to 30 years? Should we be doing something now that will make Pickford a better place in the future?"

To help answer those questions, the Pickford Township Planning Commission is inviting residents to attend a drop-in informational meeting during the first day of the festival from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Pickford Township Hall. The planning commission is in the beginning phases of updating its master plan for the township and would like the ideas and opinions of residents. Representatives from the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission will be on hand to provide information and guidance on suggestions.

Dr. Morrison said residents are encouraged to join the discussion at the meeting to share their needs and thoughts about the future of the community. Informative stations will also be set up to display ideas about future land uses, goals and objectives, financial considerations, zoning, and results of recent surveys.

New events featured at this year's festival include an "ultimate flying disc competition" and book signings by five local authors.

The competition is scheduled for Thursday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Pickford Township Park. Rules of the game are similar to that of football. Players throw a flying disc to teammates running down the field, in hopes of reaching the other team's end-zone to score. The player holding the disc has to remain stationary. If a pass is incomplete, or the disc is not thrown in 10 seconds, possession of the disc switches

to the other team. Five authors will be on hand Saturday, August 1, following the Hay Days Parade, at about 11:45 a.m., in the Pickford Township Hall. The authors, including Peter Gianakura, Sue Harrison, James Kelley , Cheryl Lanning, and Neil Moran, will be on hand for a meetand greet session to sell and sign copies of their latest books. The five authors will also be featured on the Friends of the Pickford Community Library float in the Hay Days Parade, which starts at 11 a.m. that day near the township park.

The theme of this year's parade is the same as the overall theme of the festival. Dr. Morrison expects the parade to feature many creative floats exhibiting the future needs and predictions of what Pickford will look in the near and distant future. The parade will also feature the Royal Canadian Legion Band.

Other events scheduled for this year's festival include a youth 8-ball pool tournament, softball tournament, softball game between the Pickford and Kinross fire departments, arts and crafts sale, ping pong tournament, children's parade, hay bale races, talent show, coronation ceremony of the Hay Days queen, 10K, 5K, and 2K fun run and walk, chainsaw artist's demonstration, strawberry social, lumberjack breakfast, firefighters' competition, petting zoo, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, beach volleyball, horse-pull, lawn tractor-pull, children's games and foam treasure hunt, horseshoe tournament, checkers tournament, community dances, and live music.

The Pickford Area Historical Society Museum on Main Street will serve as the hospitality center and headquarters for the festival.

For more information about any of the scheduled events during the five-day festival, contact Richard Morrison at 647-9395.

Mastaw, Spencer, Weihman Vie for Queen's Crown

Payton Mastaw, 15, Chelsea Spencer, 17, and Courtney Weihman, 16, are the three nominees vying for this year's crown as the 2009 Pickford Hay Days Queen to represent the Pickford community over the next year. Last year's queen, Leigha Dilday, said being the Hay Days Queen is an honor because the queen "represents Pickford at its best."

The winner will be selected by a panel of three judges based on the girls' responses from a series of essays and interviews. Miss. Dilday will crown the winner during a coronation ceremony Friday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pickford Township Hall.

Fifth-graders Katie Arman and Collin LaJoie were announced as the festival princess and prince, and Chris Ball was selected as the festival belle.