Hag Fest

  Back in the 80's a friend/co-worker hosted a yearly "hag-fest" at his forty acre farm out near Leonard. It started out as a fairly small event every October but grew through the years into a gathering of about a hundred people with a burn pile the size of a small house. Everyone was encouraged to bring wood for the fire but Jim, the host, had been gathering wood all summer for the event.
  At the top of the pile emerged a pole with the "hag" tied to it. And there were about a dozen small campfires around the property where people would gather in small groups during the evening. At midnight the main fire would be lit and become a massive, furious fireball so hot and bright that people had to stand back about a hundred feet to watch.
  I remember getting creeped out once when a fellow standing behind me said, "Damn, I wish it was a real hag up there."
  Eventually things began to get out-of-hand and we were getting visits from the county sheriff. So we had to put an end to this October tradition. Pity. I have many fond memories of the event.
  Misspent youth? Hell, no! These were heady times and I'd go back to do it all again if I could. I've heard it said that youth is wasted on the young but I don't think we wasted a moment.