I bless the rains down in Africa

Somewhere between Jackson, Missouri and the mighty Mississippi river there is a small farm that owns exotic animals. They buy and sell them as pets. They also rent camels for parties and they have recently opened a petting zoo where visitors can pay their daily wage and feed them a small sack of feed. Just down the road lives my eighty four year old grandmother.

She passes the farm each morning on her way to work. It really is a beautiful place; sometimes you might catch a glimpse of a gazelle or mule deer eating dewy grass. Over the past few days, the drive in to work has been even more exciting for her as she has caught a glimpse of a new guest to the farm, a giraffe, who is basking in the morning sun. “It is just so beautiful to see him standing there”, she tells me as we talk over the previous days events, “it reminds me of my time in Africa”. My grandmother visited Malawi on a mission trip within the last ten years, and she often talks about her experience. I can honestly say that anytime I see a giraffe, my mind immediately drifts to thoughts of the African plain. How awesome it would be to catch a view of a giraffe in the wild.... it is only slightly less awesome to see one down the road from your home.

My mother, who also works at our family business, chimed in, “Are you talking about the new giraffe by your house? You know that is just a statue.” Apparently, the petting zoo has purchased a rather large giraffe statue for some reason, and that is what my grandmother had been seeing the last few mornings as she drove in to work. She had not realized it was a statue she was seeing. “I was just amazed that each day he was standing in the same place”, she admitted, after realizing her mistake. We all had a good laugh about it.

I share this story simply for the fact that we are all like my grandmother. Everyone is looking for some sort of awesomeness to add to their daily life, to make it more beautiful. The Justin Osborne All America Wifflefest may be just the thing you are looking for. A one day, coed, double elimination wiffleball tournament which benefits children with down syndrome could be your chance to do just that.

Driving Directions to Wifflefest

Driving Directions to Fruitland Community Church

Fruitland Community Church 
6040 US HWY-61 
Jackson, MO 63755

Wifflefest Rules of Play

General Rules for Wifflefest


1. No Alcohol, Drugs, or Weapons allowed on Martin Tree Farm grounds

2. No Foul or Abusive language

3. Questionable calls or disputes will be handled between the two teams involved



Rules of Play for Wifflefest

All games will be 30 minutes in length. A game that is tied at the end of 30 minutes will be allowed to start an additional inning. Scorekeepers on each field will keep the time and score. If there is still time on the clock, another inning will start, allowing the home team to bat if they are behind in score.

1. Teams will be co-ed consisting of five or more players.

2. If both teams have six players, all of them will be allowed on the field at the same time. If not, only five players will be allowed.

3. All players will be allowed to bat in normal batting order.

4. Five players will be allowed on the field, with at least two girls on the field at all times. More than five players are allowed on the field if the other team has the same amount of people.

5. Fielding team must provide a pitcher, catcher and three other fielders.

6. All games will be either: Five full innings or 30 minutes in length. The home to is allowed to bat last.

7. Home team is team selected by coin toss at scorers table before game.

8. Pitcher must not throw “to hard” while pitching. If batter complains that pitcher is to fast, they must throw ball slower. (Do not be afraid to ask them to slow it down)

9. If pitched ball hits strike zone (a box) it will be called strike.

10. Four balls constitute a walk.

11. No running the bases. (We walk bases to keep track of where all the runners are)

12. Single is ball hit past white “single line”.

13. Double is ball hit past outfielder.

14. Triple is ball hit off of fence.

15. Home run is over the fence .

16. Any ball hitting a tree is considered in play until the ball lands (landing fair would be fair/ foul would be foul) where the ball lands is what will count. Any ball hit that goes over the fence and hits a tree, will be counted as a home run, even if the ball comes back into the field of play.

17. Any ball hitting tree above fence is a home run. Any ball hitting a tree that is the fence, is considered a triple (if hitting it in the air).

18. No run rule in effect.

19. Three outs per side during half inning. An out is described below:

a.) Strikeout

b.) Fly out

c.) Foul ball caught in air

d.) Groundout - Player fielding the ball cleanly before crossing the white single line

20. Only official white wiffleball and yellow wiffleball will be used. No tape or sand allowed

21. Teams must rotate pitchers every inning, allowing everyone on their team a chance to pitch. Every team member who is 12 years old and over must pitch to at least four batters to constitute a "chance" at pitching. If a team member is not 12 years old, they do not have to pitch.

22. Pitcher must stand on designated pitcher’s mound, no moving in.

23. a) Errors will be determined by opposing team.

b) If ball is bobbled then caught while still in the air, it will be considered a “catch”.

c) If ball is bobbled and then dropped, it will be considered an error.

d) If ball is to an outfielder on the ground and they commit an error, the batter will be allowed another base.

24) All questionable calls will be worked out by the teams involved, although the announcer may help decide the call if an agreement can’t be reached.

25) While batting, one person on a team can use the BIG RED BAT for one at-bat per game, per team. The at-bat starts when the first pitch is thrown, and the batter can’t switch after the pitch is thrown.

26) While fielding, the fielding team can place Ozzie Smith at any position in the field to help them field. If a batted ball hits Ozzie Smith on the fly, the batter is out. If a batted ball hits Ozzie Smith after bouncing, but in front of the white single line, the batter is out. If a batted ball hits Ozzie Smith after bouncing, but behind the single line, the batter will be awarded a single or double, depending on the position of Ozzie Smith.