Apple Fest Scholarship 2026
Congratulations to our 2026
Apple Fest Scholarship Winner, Olivia Lyon!
Congratulations to Olivia Lyon, the winner of this year’s Apple Fest Scholarship! Through an outstanding essay, Olivia truly stood out and captured the spirit of our community.
This $2000 scholarship, awarded over the course of four years of college, is a small way for Apple Fest to support bright futures and recognize the hard work and dedication of our local students.
We are so proud to be part of Olivia’s journey and can’t wait to see all the great things ahead!
Please join us in congratulating Olivia on this well-deserved achievement!
Read the winning essay:
Apple Fest: Stars, Stripes, and Apple Bites
Marionville is a small town that is rich with history and love for the people who have come before us. When it was established in 1854 by James Marion Moore, I’m sure he had no idea how the town would grow in the future. It went from a spot in the road near seven natural freshwater springs to a place with many orchards, homes, and our beloved white squirrels.
Growing up in Marionville, I have seen this firsthand. It’s important to keep this history alive and talked about so that Marionville’s past orchards won’t be forgotten and people can enjoy Applefest for years to come. The history of Marionville doesn’t define the town, but it does shape our outlook. Going forward we have to protect the history of Marionville and its traditions. In the past, Marionville
was home to seven different apple orchards. That affected Marionville because it helped the community grow as Missouri’s biggest apple town of the time. Today there is only our beloved
Murphy Orchard. I’ll always crave their apple cider slushies. To preserve and celebrate those orchards of the past, we have to keep Applefest alive, keep our current orchard alive, and tell the stories and customs to the future generations.
For the past 37 years Applefest has been a staple in this town. Applefest has even influenced my life. I’ve gone to Applefest every year since I was five. When I was younger, I was on floats in the parade. I even got up on stage for the talent show in 4th grade. In middle school I joined the color guard and have marched with the band ever since. It affects the community as well as me. It’s a festival that brings joy to the community. It helps small businesses make money and get their work out into the world. It also brings everyday community members together in a fun way. It even brings in people from other places in Missouri and gives Marionville a reason to be put on the map.
In conclusion, we need to keep these traditions alive for the future generations of Marionville. We have to remember the paths those who have walked before us took. They worked hard for this town and to give us what we have now. The least we can do is to always
remember that.