2014 Poultry Days Successful

Post by DarkeJournal.com.

Poultry Days wrapped up another successful festival on Sunday, June 15th with a weekend of great weather and fun. The question that is always asked is, “what was the number of dinners sold?” While the record of 26,101 wasn’t broken this year, the dinner sales did increase from 24,196 to 24,780. The weekend was a blur of activity with entertainment, contests, displays, and often multiple events going on simultaneously. Elizabeth White of Greenville won Miss Chick. Star Ridenour of Versailles is this year’s Little Miss Poultry Days. Producers from The Ohio Channel’s "Around the World in Ohio" program visited the festival to be featured in an upcoming episode. The switch to canned beer went smoothly with much fun had by everyone in the Social Tent.

The Grand Parade and Antique Car Parade had a large turnout with a record 161 units participating in the Antique Car and Tractor Parade and 121 units in the Grand Parade. Grand Parade awards were Queens Award – Minster Oktoberfest, Commercial Award – Brown’s Sweet Shop and Bakery, Mayors Award – Creekside, Junior Civic – Busy Beavers, Senior Civic – Right to Life, Best Theme – Kaup Pharmacy and Chairman’s Award – Versailles Fitness and Training.

A team made up of players from the top Chicago men's (Machine) and women's (Nemesis) teams beat out The Chad Larson Experience team from Iowa to win the 33rd Annual Poultry Days Ultimate Tournament. Not only did Ultimate Teams from throughout the county compete and have fun they also raised $9,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with their Egg Eating Contest.

The 5K had a total of 446 participants (251 women and 195 men). Tony O’Connor won Mens with a time of 16:15 and Libby Long for the Women at 17:33. The 2nd annual SuperFit competition grew with 1st place men -Brandon Wirrig, Brian Huwer, Phil Cavin, Jon Thiebeau. 1st place women-Brooke Pothast, Amber Whittaker. Barry Hempy and Luke Worrell too first place in the Corn Hole Tournament.

The Darke County Photography Show held their County Photography Show for the second year at Poultry Days. Best of Show Heather Jackson, Digital Enhanced Best of Show Mel Cabeen and Student Best of Show Kate Young. Wildlife 1st Place Mel Cabeen, 2nd Frank Staigl, 3rd Tom Temple. Unclassified 1st Heather Jackson, 2nd Pam Cole, 3rd Kelli Heins. Digital Enhanced 1st Mel Cabeen, 2nd Mel Cabeen, 3rd Mel Cabeen. Photo Journalism 1st Mel Cabeen 2nd Ruth McDaniel 3rd Jeannie Grosh. Poultry Days 1st Ruth McDaniel, 2nd Dick Garrison. Student 12 and Under 1st Madelin Vogel, 2nd Tiana Mescher, 3rd Chase Wise. Student 13 and above 1st Kate Young 2nd Meredith Wolfe 3rd Kate Young. People 1st Krista Stump, 2nd Krista Stump, 3rd Heather Jackson. Architecture 1st John Snell, 2nd Frank Stagil, 3rd Dick Garrison. Landscapes 1st Jeannie Grosh, 2nd John Snell, 3rd Frank Staigl. Nature 1st Dick Garrison, 2nd Darrel Michael, 3rd Tom Temple. Domestic Animals 1st Ruth McDaniel, 2nd Jeannie Grosh, 3rd Kelli Heins.

Winners of the Two on Two Basketball Tournament Men’s 18-30 age group – 1st Place – Kyle Ahrens and Ryan Knapke, 2nd place – Kevin Grieshop and Derek Langenkamp. Girls 12-13 – 1st Place – Tori Schulze and Allison Siefering, 2nd Place – Kendra Muhlenkamp and Klarrisa Hemmelgarn. Boys 12-13 – 1st Place – Michael Stammen and Kody Naftzger, 2nd Place – Ryan Martinm and Hunter Trump. Women 18-30 – 1st Place - Stacy Timmerman and Monica Heckman, 2nd place Megan Campbell and Karen Smith. Girls 14-15 – 1st Place - Ellen Peters and Danielle Winner, 2nd Place - Brianna Muhelkmap and Betsy Muhelkamp.

Kiddie Tractor Pull Winners: 3-4 yr. olds 1st place Kane Williams, 2nd place Chase Whittaker and 3rd place Noah Koopman. 5-6 yr. olds 1st place Wyatt Fitzwater, 2nd place Cameron Grilliot and 3rd place Carson Bergman. 7-8 yr. olds 1st place Travis George, 2nd place Imagene Totter and 3rd place Eli Dirksen.

Poultry Days Art Show Winners: Grades K-2: 1st A.J. Griesdorn, 2nd Marcus Briscoe, 3rd Cassie Leach. Grades 3-5: 1st Jack Gehret, 2nd Max Gehret, 3rd Kate Griesdorn. Grades 6-8: 1st & 2nd Colleen Gehret, 3rd Taylor Cordonnier. Grades 9-12: 1st Quincy Baltes, 2nd Sarah Cordonnier, 3rd Quincy Baltes. Amateurs 18 & Older: Acrylics/Oils: 1st Alexa Counts, 2nd Nichole Baltes, 3rd Alma Broerman. Pencils/Pen/Ink: 1st Alexa Counts, 2nd Andrea Luthman. Water Color: 1st Andrea Luthman. 3D Art: 1st & 2nd Eric Pothast. Professionals Acrylics/Oils: 1st Chloe McEldowney, 2nd & 3rd John VonDuhn. 3D Art: 1st John Isenhourer, 2nd & 3rd Denise Ruhenkamp. Best of Show Professional: Alexa Counts Amateur: John Isenhourer

The best of the show winners in the Cake show are: Youth-Madilyn Kelch with her flavored Cotton Candy Angel Food Cake. Adult Best of the Show was earned by Louis Gaier. These cakes were chosen as the best of the show by our judges for its height, texture, and flavor. Doris Goettemoeller took first in the Adult Flavored Angel Food Cake with Pina Colada and her granddaughter Katelyn, the daughter of Gary and Pam Goettemoeller took first place in the Girls category and second in the Youth Flavored Angel Food Cake with Maraschino Cherry. Katelyn attributes her success to her grandmother, Doris, who taught her the art of making an Angel Food Cake. Jack Gehret earned first place in Youth Egg Art with his Cluck Dynasty presentation. He is the son of Carl Gehret. Paula Scott earned first place in Adult Egg Art.

It’s a long wait for the next festival but there is little rest for the board which is already making notes for how to improve the festival with monthly meetings resuming in August as they find a way to beat the chicken sales record. We want to thank everyone who visited the festival and invite you to Versailles June 12, 13 and 14th for the 2015 Poultry Days. For more information go to www.versaillespoultrydays.com.