Ferriday — Ferriday Garden Club members can put down their rakes, shovels and garbage bags — for at least one day.

Club members and other volunteers and community representatives welcomed the judges Wednesday for the Louisiana Garden Club Federation’s Cleanest City Contest with a reception at the Concorida Parish Library in Ferriday.

But cookies and punch weren’t the welcome gift. The judges were escorted into town by police and fire officials and met with applause and cheers from Ferriday High School students.

And the warm welcome didn’t go unnoticed by the judges.

“My, don’t we feel welcome,” said Beth Erwin, Cleanest City Contest chairman for LGCF district five.

But the judges didn’t have long to enjoy the welcome before they got busy with the contest.

The judges were first presented a scrapbook, which they viewed in private, detailing the cleanup work done in Ferriday. Next on the agenda was a driving tour of the town.

“We have a route that they tour that was approved,” Ferriday Garden Club President Sherrill Sasser said.

The route included tours of E.E. Wallace Boulevard, the Huntington School area and downtown Ferriday.

“They like to see public buildings,” Sasser said. “So we will take them by the city hall, the post office, churches and schools.

“They can ask to see other things, but they usually don’t.”

Erwin said the judges receive literature several weeks before the contest judging begins that outlines the criteria for the contest. Judges look for well kept lawns, litter, condition of sidewalks, recreation facilities and public housing facilities within the city limits and general cleanliness of a city during their tour.

Before the judging began, Erwin, who is not one of the three judges assigned to Ferriday, said she could already see an improvement in the appearance of the city. She had visited Ferriday early in the cleanest city campaign on a “coaching visit.”

At that time, she gave garden club members some suggestions about areas to work on, and Ewing said her advice was listened to.

“The ditches look much cleaner, and the litter is much better,” Ewing said. “You can tell improvements have been made.”

Ferriday is competing against three other district five cities of similar population — Farmerville, Grambling and Jonesboro.

Dianne Waston, Ferriday cleanest city campaign chairman, said the competition from these cities will be stiff since some of them have been entering the contest for several years. This year is the first time in many years that Ferriday has entered the contest.

But Ewing said that isn’t necessarily a strike against the city.

“Grambling won it last year, and it was their first year to enter,” she said. “And they don’t have a garden club.”

If Ferriday does take the cleanest city crown for district five, they will be judged once again in May for the overall state winner.

The district winner will be announced sometime after the April 7 judgings in Farmerville, Grambling and Jonesboro.

And even if the city doesn’t take the title this year, Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin said the work already done is something to be proud of.

“We are already winners,” he said. “Just look at the town.”