In 1869, the Young Farmers' Light Guard was organized in Fosters Meadow. They met on a regular basis at the Herman hotel and other neighboring hotels to drill and practice target shooting. Fortunately, beer was always available for purchase at their headquarters. They would make an appearance as a unit at weddings and funerals and they sponsored two major events during the year. Each winter, which could be long and quiet in a rural farm community, they sponsored a masquerade ball open to the public at their headquarters. It was in October, at the height of harvest, that the Young Farmers' Light Guard had its annual Turnout. The farmer’s Turnout was the way the farmers displayed their harvest. Fruits and vegetables were neatly loaded and paraded through the village. The parade would start at Herman’s Hotel on Elmont Road, circled through the village and ended at the same place. The Turnout ended a with a Turkey shoot and prizes were awarded for the best decorated float.
Excerpts taken from the Long Island Forum, Fall 2003, written by Paul Hoffman
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