jiffy mart disc

 Music fans who braved the heat for the day-long Highway to Henryetta music festival got more than they bargained for Saturday night.
Everyone knew Blake Shelton was going to be the headliner for the event organized by HHS alum Troy Aikman. What they didn’t know that about midway into Shelton’s set, he would be joined by wife Gwen Stefani.
She came onto the stage amid screams and applause that added to the days overall success.
Shelton told the 10,000 people crowding Nichols Park that he didn’t hesitate to be a part of the festival. He said he got a text from Aikman while he was baiting his deer stands and said, “Man I’d be honored to be a part of it.”
Shelton, a Johnson County resident, told everyone he has been through Henryetta on I-40 many times while growing up in Ada.
Aikman praised Henryetta, pointing out he played baseball at the fields a few hundred feet away from that main stage.
“This started out as a class high school reunion.” The 1984 HHS grad said his years in Henryetta as a Fighting Hen has meant a lot to him. The reunion discussion turned to holding a festival here and he said it went from there.
That Fighting Hen mascot was referred to several times as Aikman pointed out some classmates and friends. “I am so proud of the impact Henryetta has meant to my life.”
Aikman had special guests, Barry Switzer, who coached him at OU in 1984 and 1985 and when he was coach at Dallas in 1995-97.
He pointed out the festival is “raising a lot of money for the high school, the academic and athletic programs.” That was reflected when HHS coaches Weston McGill and Dutch VandenBorn were presented a $10,000 check fom the College Football Foundation.
Two stages provided entertainment throughout the day, the main stage that faced the natural amphitheater sloping hill, and, appropriately enough, the Hen House second stage.
Also supplying music during the day were Pat Green, the Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen and Stoney Larue, along with George Dunham and The Bird Dogs.
A 17-year-old performer Mikayla Lane, was one of the newest additions to the performance lineup. She is from Mannford and was most recently seen in Henryetta at the Roy Madden Spring Roundup rodeo.
The festival provided plenty of food, drinks and souvenirs. A booth was manned by Hillcrest Henryetta hospital personnel who said there were a few heat-related cases but nothing serious threatened the overall fun.
Police chief Steve Norman said he was pleased with the turnout and the way people handled themselves.
“We had all hands on board throughout the day and were assisted by other officers. The park was completely cleared out within an hour after the event ended.”
As people were leaving, many praised the event and said they would like to see it become an annual event.

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