Carolyn Bailey will usher in Lamb Days as Grand Marshal
Robert Stevens and Clara Hatcher
Managing editor, staff writer
7/13/2017
FOUNTAIN GREEN— If you love sheep, lamb, wool, mutton or even just good ol’ town celebrations, Fountain Green is the place to be this weekend.
The town celebrates Lamb Days, the annual celebration of Sanpete’s historic sheep town this Friday and Saturday.
Originally launched to promote local lamb consumption, Fountain Green’s Lamb Days has continued since 1932.
The celebration begins Friday at noon with the annual youth Lamb Show, and will end with fireworks Saturday at 10 p.m.
In between those times, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, will by the Lamb Days Mammoth Parade, with Carolyn Bailey as grand marshal.
“I think it’s quite an honor,” Bailey said.
Thought not a Fountain Green native, Bailey has come to love Lamb Days. She moved to Fountain Green after marrying her husband, Paul, who was a lifelong resident of the town; She has never missed a Lamb Days since. She served on the Lamb Days Committee for 21 years, during which time she ran the hamburger stand, parade and dance.
One event in particular, back in 1970, demonstrates Bailey’s commitment to the towns’ signature festival.
She was pregnant with the couple’s daughter, Jamie. When her doctor told her the due date, which was right smack dab during Lamb Days, her response was, “I have something to do that day.”
Sure enough, she went into labor during the celebration, yet she still worked the entire day at the parade and lamb stands. She remembers hanging onto a light pole to steady herself while still running the parade during her contractions.
Daughter Jamie was born later than night.
Also this year is Melanie Beck as the new Miss Lamb Day, crowned in March. Olivia Hanson was named first attendant, and Denisha Ivory is Beck’s second attendant.
And, of course, there will be plenty to eat.
A lamb and sourdough dinner will be served Friday from 5-8 p.m. The next morning’s chuckwagon breakfast, also at the park, will be 7-9 a.m. There will be a watermelon-eating contest at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. And of course, the celebration’s traditional and famous lamb sandwiches will begin being served at 1:30 p.m.
All these events and many others—the Lamb Show, a craft fair, fun run and Mutton Bustin’ will be at the city park.
