ROGERSVILLE — Mayor Richard Herston admits when he first heard the suggestion of a scarecrow decorating contest in 2011, he wasn’t sure how it would be received.

“It really went over great. I think everyone was pleasantly surprised,” Herston said.

The scarecrows were so successful, the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce decided to make it an annual event leading up to the town’s Fall Festival, which will be Oct. 20.

“We just had a good response last year from the community and people from outside the community coming into town to see the scarecrows,” said Jana Whitley, office manager of the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce. “We had a lot of businesses get involved as well as the local civic clubs and the school.”

This year’s scarecrows will be installed around town by Saturday and judged Monday.

“We’re seeing a lot of people working on their scarecrows all over town,” Herston said. “It fun, and everyone who makes a scarecrow has a good time with it.”

The mayor said the scarecrows and other activities planned for the town during the next few weeks are about bringing people into Rogersville.

“We’re proud of the town we have, and it’s a way to show it off and get others to come and see what we have,” Herston said.

The scarecrows will remain throughout the downtown area through the end of the Fall Festival.

Whitley said the festival will not only feature the display of the scarecrows, but also a chili cook-off, a car show, children’s costume parade, pet parade and an arts-and-crafts show by Lauderdale County Elementary School students.

“The entire community gets involved,” Herston said. “This has turned into a fun time, and the scarecrows just get it all started.”

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.