The Old Dominion Draft Horse and Mule Association was excited to participate in the Montpelier Wine Festival this past weekend.  James Madison's Montpelier and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Montpelier Wine Festival, a weekend celebration of southern hospitality that showcases wines from 24 award-winning Virginia wineries.  Admission to the festival included a souvenir wine glass, wine tastings and also discounted the entrance fee to tour the mansion at Montpelier.

The weather was terrific both days and the grounds at Montpelier provided a perfect setting for festival-goers to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment for the whole family.  Entertainment included live music throughout the entire event, a diverse group of wine and food vendors, seminars and cooking with wine demonstrations, kite making station, a barrel train, a goat station with baby goats, and draft horse and mule wagon rides!  A large shaded area provided a wonderful picnic area for the whole family, allowing parents to relax and sip wine, while the children ran and played!

Draft horse teams on Saturday included Ricky & Lorri McLeod’s team of black percherons, “Sonny” and “Michael”, Cheryl Sgarrella’s team of black percherons “Beth” and “Belle”, and Art & Melanie Magner’s team of draft crosses “Roxie” and “Herman” hitched to their wagon.  On Sunday, Ricky and Lorri McLeod brought their team of mules, “Doc” and “Holiday”, which were a crowd favorite!  Billy Slingerland had his team of black percherons, “Jason” and “Justin”.  Art and Melanie had their team also.  The teams provided well over 250 rides both days.

A big thank you to Mary and Junior Haney for providing their Pioneer wagon, Art and Melanie Magner for providing their wagon and to Billy Slingerland for providing his wagonette both days.  Thank you to Art and Melanie Magner, Ricky and Lorri McLeod, Billy Slingerland and Cheryl Sgarrella for providing their teams.  Thank you to Hamilton Knight and Lucas Spillman for assisting the entire weekend!  Thank you to Mary and Junior Haney for working the ODDHMA tent, selling t-shirts, raffle tickets, wagon rides and filling in where ever they were needed the entire weekend.  Thank you to Dylan Grimes for assisting on Sunday.  Thank you to the Montpelier Foundation, The Orange Chamber of Commerce and the Montpelier Wine Festival for a terrific event.  Teamwork equals success!