Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival Trivia Quiz

The Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival is celebrating 25 years of award-winning scarecrow displays.

Over the years, the annual invasion has given us lively parades with a down-home feel, fun-packed family festivals, a kazoo band, colouring contests, business display competition, an apple pie contest and more, not to mention the thousands of scarecrows dressed as movie stars, athletes, pirates, and pioneers, fairy tale favourites, and famous Canadians. Remember the display with Don Cherry and Fred Wallace avatars on Sykes Street, Mary Poppins hanging from the ball diamond backstop in Bognor, Dolly Parton at Station Hill?

Scarecrow volunteer Donnalee Hobson has prepared a trivia quiz that is designed to trigger memories of yesteryear’s invasions and start the conversation. Test your knowledge. Who are George, Shubird, Straggle, and Patches? How many scarecrows does it take to make an invasion? How many volunteers? What awards have been bestowed on the event over the years?

The Meaford Independent is pleased to publish the ten-part trivia quiz here. To compete to win prizes, either go to scarecrowinvasion.com and complete the quiz online, or deliver a completed paper copy to the Meaford Public Library or 48 Iron Wood Drive in Meaford anytime until September 26.

Scarecrow Invasion Trivia Contest

Name:_______________________________Contact Number:________________

1. Probably the most famous Scarecrow is the one played by Ray Bolger in the movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. What was he seeking from the Wizard?
   1. heart
   2. brain
   3. courage
   4. to go home

2. On average, how many scarecrows are made each year during six workshops with the help of the community to decorate the Meaford area?
   1. 150
   2. 200
   3. 250
   4. 300

3. There are a number of scarecrows permanently housed/displayed around Meaford. Which of the following name/s is NOT a Meaford Scarecrow?
   1. Straggle
   2. George
   3. Patches
   4. Shubird
   5. none of the above
   6. all of the above

4. In medieval Britain there was an actual job for young boys who would wander the fields with bags of stones and throw them at the crows. What were they called?
   1. crow boys
   2. bird scarer
   3. poacher prods
   4. sippers

5. On average how many volunteers are involved with the Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival annually?
   1. 150
   2. 200
   3. 250
   4. 300

6. How many years have the roads been closed to allow the Scarecrow Invasion Parade to go down Sykes Street to the Rotary Pavilion?
   1. 18
   2. 21
   3. 25
   4. 27

7. The first known usage of the word ‘scarecrow’ in English novels was in:

   1. 1400 in Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer

   2. 1719 in Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe

   3. 1762-63, in Boswell’s London Journal, written by James Boswell

   4. 1883 in Treasure Island, written by Robert Louis Stevenson

8. What musical instrument does the official marching band of the Scarecrow Invasion play?
   1. the tub cello
   2. the recorder
   3. the kazoo
   4. the ukulele

9. Which of the following names are NOT synonymous with scarecrow?
   1. Hodmedod
   2. Gallybagger
   3. Tattie Bogle
   4. Boogleman

10. What awards has the Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival and its volunteers won in the past years?
    1. The June Callwood Award for volunteerism
    2. The Festival and Events Ontario Top 100
    3. Governor General Sovereign Medal for Volunteers
    4. all of the above and many others