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Goodman: Special to McDonald County Directory Although small, Goodman still has a lot to offer residents as well as out of town visitors. e city has retail stores, professional businesses, convenience stores and more. From railroads to fruit orchards, to fun-filled festivals and the beautiful surroundings of Southwestern Missouri, the City of Goodman takes an active role in providing for and supporting their evolving community. Fruitful past Goodman was once covered in more than 2,500 acres of fruit orchards, earning it the reputation of being one of the most successful fruit enterprises in this part of the country. e premier business was the Ozark Orchard Company, founded in 1895 by Lowell Goodman—the man the town was eventually named aer. Lowell was responsible for acres and acres of fruit trees and berry fields that covered what is now the city limits of Goodman in the late 1800s. He had originally started by planting fruit trees on his own property and then expanded exponentially when his company bought half of the town. e local industry experienced a steep decline in the mid 20th century and the verdant orchards and fruitful fields mostly disappeared. Celebrating a legacy In 2016 the city established the Annual Ozark Orchard Fest to honor their town's namesake, Lowell Goodman, and celebrate his legacy. e festival has become an attraction for people coming from all over the region. Families make the journey to Goodman for games and inflatables for the children, vendors who display and sell their handmade cras, and lots of free food supplied by the city. Treasure hunt Another annual event Goodman has been hosting for nearly 30 years is the Annual City Wide Garage Sale, where members of the community sell and buy each other's unwanted items, living up to the old adage: one man's trash is another man's treasure. Christmas parade And if you are planning a visit to the city you might want to keep in mind the Annual Christmas Parade. It's fun for the whole family with a variety of colorful floats, music and, of course, Santa riding on top of a fire engine. You'll also enjoy drawings and raffles for various prizes, great food and photos with Santa (once he disembarks his bright red ride). Every year different members of the Goodman community serve as Grand Marshall of the Parade. Celebrating a fruitful past Fun Day Car Show and Cruise event hosted by the Goodman Betterment Club. Photos courtesy mcDonald County Press 22 | McDonald county Directory