2025 Asparagus Queen Shelby Purdy and Runner Up Haley Walsworth
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Every year thousands of people flock to Oceana County to celebrate asparagus season in the “Asparagus Capital of the World” during the National Asparagus Festival.
Oceana County is the top producer of asparagus in Michigan, accounting for about 80 percent of Michigan’s asparagus production, and Michigan is the leading producer in the country.
Asparagus season is in full swing right now in Oceana County, where approximately 20 million pounds are harvested annually.
This weekend’s National Asparagus Festival (NAF) celebrates the huge harvest.
The festival’s highlight event is the Joan Glover Royale Parade, which begins Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. It is the largest parade in Oceana County and features both the Hart and Shelby high school marching bands. The parade and all events will take place “rain or shine.”
The NAF float introduces the newly-crowned asparagus royalty. The 2026 Asparagus Queen will be crowned Friday, June 12, during intermission of the Friday Night kick-off concert at the Oceana County Fairgrounds.
Five women are vying for this year’s crown: Shannon Beishuizen, Katelyn Brown, Makynzie Curtis, Jennifer Ramirez Coppedge and Sami Weesies.
The Friday Night Kick Off Party in the grandstands will feature Your Generation in Concert. The eight-member band performs five decades of pop, rock, dance, and R&B hits. Known as one of the world’s finest tribute bands, Your Generation in Concert has shared the stage with famous artists like Billy Joel, Sheryl Crown, Lenny Kravitz and Flo Rida.
The gates and beer tent open at 6 p.m.; the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; and the queen crowning on the main stage begins at 8:30 p.m.
New this year is an asparagus eating contest, which will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of the grandstands. Each participant will be served 2 pounds of boiled asparagus. The first person to finish their 2 pounds wins the trophy, which also includes the added honor of serving as the Grand Marshal for the NAF parade. The winner will also receive some festival swag to wear in the parade. Seven competitors are presently signed up, said NAF Board President Michele Cunningham.
“We’re really excited for the Friday night kickoff,” said Cunningham. “The band is really great—they’re phenomenal. People asked to have them back, and we’re excited to get them back. The person who books for Stix Bar connected us with their agency. They put on a good show and are interactive. It’s a free concert.”
Food will be available for purchase from the Oceana County Firefighters Training Committee. All proceeds from the food sales go toward the training of Oceana County firefighters. The beer tent will feature drafts from Big Hart Brewing Company and canned beverages. The Sippin’ Station will also be on site, serving non-alcoholic drinks.
Saturday’s events kick off with the Ryan Walsworth Spear-It 5K, which is held in memory of Ryan Walsworth, a local asparagus farmer and donor to the asparagus festival and Oceana’s agriculture industry. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m. at the Chicken Shack in Silver Lake.
The arts and crafts show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the courthouse lawn will feature over 60 arts and crafts vendors.
The Friendship Ring Quilt Guild is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging on West Tyler Road in Hart.
The Hart Heritage Car Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hart Heritage District.
The Taste of Asparagus competition is an opportunity for asparagus lovers to share their favorite asparagus dishes and compete for monetary prizes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hart Historic District Heritage Hall. For the main division, there will be prizes for first, second and 
third place. New this year is a college age division. Any student who is currently enrolled in college will get the chance to win a $500 scholarship. Categories include: appetizer, salad or side dish, main dish and dessert.
Enjoy tasty eats from eight food vendors during the festival, including: Bennett’s Concessions, Donut Worry & Confectionary, Kane’s Sunset Sweets, Majoor’s Concessions, PapaDad’s BBQ, The Sippin Station, Dawg Wagon and R&T’s Colossal Kitchen.
Kids can enjoy a day of free family activities on State Street. Activities include Grace Adventure’s climbing tower and power jump, axe throwing, a bounce house and more. Take aim at dunking a volunteer at Hart Rotary’s dunk tank challenge. A new attraction in the Kids’ Zone this year is a mechanical bull, said Cunningham.
The Asparagus Farm Tour begins at 9:30 a.m. at the West Michigan Research Station, at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. Transportation is not provided. However, a tour guide will be on site to lead the group to each location. Riley Farms, located at 5340 W. Taylor Rd. in Mears, is the first stop.
The Asparagus Fly-In Pancake Breakfast is set for Sunday, June 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Oceana County Airport, at 1805 W. Baseline Rd. in Shelby Township. There will be aircraft displays and door prizes.
Cunningham has been involved in NAF for 18 years. She joined the board in 2008 during her reign as the asparagus queen (formerly Mrs. Asparagus). “It’s so cool to be part of something in the community and seeing kids happy.”
For more information about the events, visit the national asparagus festival website.
OCP file photos from the 2025 NAF Joan Glover Royale Parade by Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
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