All sorts of crafts can be seen at the Stillings Sorghum Molasses Festival.


ny’s parents, Ted and Nora Stillings, and Linda’s parents, Audie and Ethel Posey, lived in the same area. Bryan and Renee Stillings live in Ava


and are the parents of Aaron, Caleb and Emily. Tim and Laura Stillings also live in Ava and are the parents of Austin, Ashton and Weston. “We’d like to keep it going,” says Aar- on Stillings, who was at last year’s event with his wife, Serenity, and their daugh- ter, Audrey. “It’s a lot of hard work.” When the molasses was nearly done,


visitors gathered closely to watch. Tony, Tim and Bryan stirred the bubbling mo- lasses, eyeing it carefully, as steam bil- lowed from the pan. Aaron explained to a family member the difficulty in judging the consistency near the end of the cooking time, and how quickly it can change. “It’s getting thicker,” Tim observes. “It won’t be long,” Tony responds. At just the right moment, the family quickly inserts two poles across the 7- foot by 3-foot rectangular steel pan and hoists it onto a wooden platform. They strain the molasses into 5-gallon milk buckets, and pass out biscuits, in dis- posable bowls, to the crowd so everyone


34  JULY/AUGUST 2019  LIVING WELL


Want to go? When: Saturday, Sept. 28


Time: All day, with a demonstration around 11 a.m.


Where: Once in Ava, Mo., turn on 76 West and drive 8 miles. There will be signs and vehicles parked in a field.


For more info: (417) 543-5379


can have a taste of the hot molasses. Back in the day, kids would cut sorghum canes diagonally and use them to scrape the molasses out of the pan. The most popular way to eat sorghum molasses is over hot biscuits, but it’s also used in baked goods like cakes and cookies.


“It’s the most beautiful thing,” Tim


says, describing the golden color of the finished product. The family still uses Ted’s 1953 Far- mall Cub tractor to turn the sorghum press to make their molasses. “I think he’d be mighty proud in kee-


pin’ it goin’,” Tim says, referring to his grandfather. “I’m proud we’re keepin’ it alive.” 


A youngster smiles as she feeds sorghum stalks into a press.


Music is a big part of the festival.


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