Poppy McDonald will be recognized with the Trail Master of the Year Award when the Opp Area Chamber of Commerce holds its Membership and Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, May 9.

McDonald joined the Trail Masters in 2016 and became the organization’s secretary in 2017.  During the past year, she has assisted in scheduling the golf cart tours for the Trail Masters’ spectacular event “Scarecrows in the Park.”  She most enjoys meeting the many visitors who attend the event and interacting with them during their visits.

A retired educator, McDonald taught in Texas, Alaska, Georgia, and Calhoun and Covington Counties in Alabama, and retired after 39 years of service.

McDonald possesses a very talented and creative “spirit” which has served her well in fashioning several of the scarecrow displays.  Her most innovative and unique displays are proudly displayed at the front gate of the park throughout the entirety of the Scarecrows in the Park event.  She credits Marvin McCullough for assisting with the gate displays to ensure they are a success. 

Being a member of the Trail Masters organization has afforded McDonald, who is not a native of Opp, the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and learn more about the history of Opp. 

She said her fellow Trail Masters are a great group of people. 

“They laugh a lot and work well together,” she said. 

McDonald said she is honored to be receiving this award.

“I could not do what I do without the support and cooperation of all the members,” she said.

She and her husband, former Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald, have one daughter, Kristen, who is married to Eric Baumgartner, and a granddaughter, Emery Grace, 4.

The banquet is set for the First Baptist Church Fellowship Center. Tickets will be $25.00 and will be available at the chamber office beginning the first week of April.