39th annual Mighty Moo Festival

From 39th annual Mighty Moo Festival Website:

39th annual Mighty Moo Festival
June 15-18, 2016

In July 1977, former USS Cowpens Crewman, Mr. O.J. Simpson, surprised the townspeople by attending the towns first Mighty Moo Day festival. The festival to honor the USS Cowpens Crewman was an idea that arose from the towns successful Bicentennial Celebration the previous year and had been advertised in a Navy magazine. About 1500 visitors turned out for the rides, flea market, and Colonial experiences of that first festival.

By 1981, with the help of crewmen Gerald Shaw, Nick Verlinick, and Dr. Herbert Noland, the reunion had grown to include ten crewmen and their wives. The reunion included a reception at the Town Hall and dinner at the Wagon Wheel Fish Camp. Before leaving, the crewmen donated money to the town to be used in restoring the old train depot. In 1982, the depot was moved to its current location, where the restored building holds a civic center and museum comprised of memorabilia donated by USS Cowpens crewmen. The crewmen also agreed to establish the third weekend in June as the date of the annual reunion in Cowpens.

When Chief Petty Officer Paul Smith was selected to attend the Mighty Moo Festival while stationed aboard the USS Cowpens CG-63 a few years ago, he thought it was an awesome thing that the town of Cowpens put together a festival supporting both CVL-25 and CG-63. Smith says that after 16 years with the Navy, hes never heard of any festival similar to the one hosted by the Town of Cowpens. The people of Cowpens seemed friendly and warm, says Smith, who echoes the towns sentiments when he wishes the time together could last more than a day.

Today, the festival is a four-day event that boasts street dances, a golf tournament, beauty pageant, a baseball game, an arts and crafts sale, and a parade. The festival is a time for the townspeople to celebrate their history and to honor the veterans and crewmen of the USS Cowpens CVL 25 and the USS Cowpens CG63. Mr. Carswell Wynne, a veteran of the USS Cowpens CVL 25 and regular attendee of the Mighty Moo Festival says, Words cant explain the joy we have when coming to The Mighty Moo Festival, The Battle Ground and being with our families that have adopted us.