Home sweet Jackson: Current, former residents gather for 100th Homecomers

People come back to Jackson in the summer like birds flying south for the winter.

Every summer people from the small town return to meet, greet and eat at the Jackson Homecomers Festival.

Susan Hutteger grew up in a house so close to the courthouse square that her family used to walk up to the yearly town reunion several times a day. After marriage, she moved away, but she still managed to come home a few of those years.

"Now we live in Cape, but we still come to Homecomers every year," she said.

She brought another generation of Huttegers to this year's 100th anniversary: her 10-year-old grandson, Cooper Hutteger and her 6-year-old granddaughter, Lily Hutteger, both from Shawnee, Kan.

Lily had already made a friend in 7-year-old Homecomer Chelsea Schamburg. The two played Frisbee on the courthouse lawn before the opening ceremonies Tuesday night.

"That's what's great about Homecomers," Susan Hutteger said. "You make new friends and see old ones."

The rides and food stands were in full swing. Malone's State Fair Taffy was back on the scene after a small break because of scheduling conflicts.

"We try to be here every year," said Linda Carroll, who was manning the window and bagging taffy Tuesday. She said she can remember coming to Homecomers for at least 20 years.

She's not alone. Other food vendors are staples on the festival scene — from funnel cakes to hot dogs. Several people say the event has gotten smaller, but the crowds keep growing with new additions to hometown families and to the town family.