Photos by Monty Siekerman
It was a great weekend in Ada as the 104th annual Farmers and Merchants Picnic took place under sunny skies.

LOTS OF PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF STORY -

A good size crowd attended festivities throughout the day. More people than usual lined Main Street for the parade, drawing many children with sacks for the candy that was tossed to them.

Hint for next year: kids at the beginning of the parade get more candy that those at the end of the parade because the candy stock hasn't run out.

The day turned out perfect compared to last year's gully washers, which put a stop to festivities. Rain for F&M and Harvest and Herb Fest has been rare.

This year's picnic saw several additions: a craft booth, more amusement and food vendors, and a wood carver, to name a few.

Little Prince and Princess saw about $5,000 in tickets sold compared to $12,000 last year. The F&M receives 90 percent of ticket sales. There was no beer tent with entertainment this year, it just didn't pay off to have one.

PHOTOS
• Dorothy Lugibihl of Bluffton, 82, still helps out at the ice cream stand where ice cream is made the old-fashioned way, like Grandma used to make. Enjoying a dish of homemade ice cream is Greg Price.

• A craft area was new to the picnic this year. Here, Danita Bruner displays homemade signs

• Chuck Schepflin of Fremont carves a raptor dinosaur.

• Kiddie tractor pull contestant

• This is the first year that the OWHA has supervised the halter and performance horse contest at F & M.

• Preparing for the horse show.

• Karsen Sprang, 8, of Kenton, who participates in showmanship, with his palomino.

• Horses real, and not so real.

• Flying through the air with the greatest of ease.