Full Day of Activities At Saturday's
Fall Festival

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

From Duck Races, to exhibit booths, the Lone Star Quilter's Quilt Show, to Hot Dog Eating Contests, and the Tractor Pull, Saturday was a full day at the 40th Annual Hopkins County Fall Festival. "I can remember when it all got started over by the Old Armory Building in Buford Park," exclaimed one Saturday fair-goer. "It has certainly grown in the past 40 years!"

 

This beautiful quilt, entitled "Faith Hope & Love," quilted by
Peggie Wilkinson, won the "President's Award" at the Quilt Show.

 

While the 39th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest got underway at its new location in Buford Park, a world of other activities were unfolding at the Civic Center Complex. And, the convenience of the Trolley System worked great. "I was amazed at just how easy it was to get around from place to place," expressed one trolley rider. "We just waited about 5 minutes and were delivered right to where we wanted to go. It was great!"

 

 

 

 

Many individuals spent the morning going through booths at the Civic Center Complex, then rode the trolley to the stew grounds and enjoyed lunch, then boarded the trolley back for the Duck Race, Hot Dog Eating Contest, and an afternoon of sitting in the air conditioned Civic Center Arena for the Tractor Pull, or going to the exhibit booths.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday's Duck Race, as always, had some problems with children attempting to take the ducks out of the water. "Parents are going to have to warn their children to leave the ducks alone, as they float down the creek," inserted one of the contest organizers. "We're having too many children attempting to take the ducks out of the water, during the contest, and no one would want their duck removed by someone, preventing it to make it to the finish line!"

 

 

 

 

 

Winners in Saturday's Duck Race included: Greg Carpenter, 1st Place, winning a $500.00 prize; Nancy Harmon, 2nd Place; Chaney Johnson, 3rd Place; and Russel Vanbibber, winning the "Lame Duck" Prize.

 

 

And, don't let anybody tell you that Hopkins County don't have any hot dog eating "dudes!" Ethan Rogers managed to down 6 1/2 hot dogs to claim top prize in the children's division of the contest, Saturday at 1:30 p.m., while Melissa Wischerman claimed 2nd prize, and Austin Wyatt Smithson, took the third prize. And, the Smithson family must really like hot dogs, as it was Mack Smithson, who managed to eat 13 hot dogs, and claimed the Adult Division Championship, on Saturday. David Norton took 2nd prize while eating 11 hot dogs, and Larry Wischerman claimed third prize with his nine hot dogs eaten.

 

 

Youth Division winners in Saturday's Hot Dog Eating Contest included, left to right, 3rd place,
Austin Wyatt Smithson; 2nd place, Melissa Wischerman; and 1st prize, Ethan Rogers.

 

"Chowing-down".....in the Adult Hot Dog Eating Contest!!!

 

 

Adult Hot Dog Eating Winners included, left to right, Larry Wischerman, 3rd prize; Mac
Smithson, Grand Champion; and David Norton, 2nd prize.

 

 

Look for complete results later in the week for the Household Arts Contest and the Tractor Pull Results, as well as the winners in the Lone Star Quilt Show.

 

 

 

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