Recent announcements cast a shadow on two McMinnville traditions.
One, tradition, ‘Turkey Rama,’ started in 1960 or 1961. The other, ‘Dragging the Gut’ Festival, began in 2010. In both cases, these events have brought positive national attention to McMinnville.
For years, Turkey Rama boasted its world's largest turkey BBQ. And, half turkey meals barbecued on giant grills either downtown or Wortman Park were bought and gobbled up by Turkey Rama-goers. Forget it.
Turkey Rama continues, but no barbecued turkey or turkey meals from those giant grills.
A younger event, a good one, too, was Dragging the Gut, a brainchild of McMinnville High and Linfield College grad Ruben Contreras Jr. of McMinnville. It featured cars cruising/dragging the gut on McMinnville's downtown Third Street, a car show, and money and food donations for Yamhill Community Action Partnership’s food bank.
It was great. Now. like the turkey BBQ and meals, it’s in McMinnville's dustbin.
No matter if a copycat event takes over, it won't be the same. And, that's a shame. Mr. Contreras started it and should be allowed to continue it. If the City of McMinnville really cared it'd find a way.
Sometimes change is good. In this case it's a double dose of bad. McMinnville is the loser. Twice.