Farm Show kicks off with watermelon eating contest, more
BUTLER TWP — A hush fell over the crowd as contestants sunk their teeth into juicy slices of watermelon Monday night at the Butler Farm Show.
The second annual Watermelon Eating Contest put on by the Junior Farm Show Board had 30 competitors vying for a T-shirt prize.
Bleachers filled with passersby eager to watch children and adults eat the most fruit they could in a 90-second span.
Ken Metrick, supervisor of the Junior Board, said the event was started to harken to the older activities of the Farm Show.
“We used to have family games, pie-eating contests, tobacco-spitting contests,” he said. “We thought we’d go back and repeat some of them, and people seem to like it.”
Last year, organizers had to limit the amount contestants because so many entered.
“I never dreamt how well it would go,” he said.
Robin Peters, a member of the Junior Board, chopped slices of watermelon alongside her peers in preparation for the event.
“They’re historic family traditions,” she said of the contest. “There always used to be eating contests somewhere.”
Eager eaters Katie and Julia Peth signed up together for the adult and children’s divisions, respectively.
“I made her,” Julia, 11, said. “I just wanted to. I love eating watermelon. If I win, I’ll probably eat more watermelon.”
The adult contestants stepped onstage first, stuffing their faces with slice after slice, some of them getting sick in the attempt. In the end, Chris Zedreck, of Butler, emerged victorious.
“My 4-year-old wanted me to sign up, now he’s competing,” Zedreck said, water still dripping from his face. “My strategy was to not chew.”
Now that he’s won once, Zedreck said he’s tempted to sign up for next year’s contest.
Linda Smith, of Butler, brought her grandchildren to watch. She said she didn’t know anyone competing and didn’t know what to expect.
“I just love the family atmosphere and community aspect,” she said. “I come to the Farm Show to see people I don’t normally see.”
The children’s division of the contest started minutes later, with some contestants barely as tall as the table before them. Ashe Ketchem, 12, finished first with two slices eaten.
“This is the first Farm Show I’ve been to,” said Ashe, whose family is from Butler. “I thought (the contest) would be fun.”
Her strategy, she said, was to focus on the juices in the fruit.
“I said to my cousins, ‘Be a vacuum, suck it all up, chew and swallow at the same time,’” she said. “Now that I’ve won, I’ll probably not eat anything else the rest of the night.”
