[dropcap]To[/dropcap] cool off in the summer, it might be tempting to reach for a sweet treat like ice cream or popsicles, but nature has the perfect (and healthy) dessert for you to snack on instead. Watermelon is a low-calorie, low-fat fruit that contains important nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin A, potassium and much more. Not to mention watermelon itself is an extremely versatile cooking ingredient – include it in salads, sandwiches, cocktails, salsas, desserts and appetizers!
For an annual celebration of this excellent fruit, the Rush Springs Festival and Rodeo comes to Jeff Davis Park in Chickasaw County on the second Saturday of August. This highly anticipated annual tradition began in 1948 and attracts more than 30,000 guests every year. From Aug. 11-13, there will be live entertainment, numerous food vendors, a carnival and a watermelon giveaway along with arts and crafts vendors, stage shows, watermelon exhibits and an antique car and motorcycle show. Make sure to look for Kiley Horton, the 2016 Rush Springs Watermelon Queen, for pictures or a chat. Admission is free. For more information, visit chickasawcounty.com.
