Another Golden day at Sweet Potato Festival

Posted 10/26/16

It was a picture perfect festival as this year’s Golden Sweet Potato Festival packed fun, food and festivities in the annual community celebration this weekend.

“It was great and we were …

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Another Golden day at Sweet Potato Festival

Posted

It was a picture perfect festival as this year’s Golden Sweet Potato Festival packed fun, food and festivities in the annual community celebration this weekend.

“It was great and we were blessed,” said Debbie Brown, a member of the festival board. This year’s auction raised about $23,000 with the first place box grown by Phil Jones and bought by Lucy Mitchell of Golden for $1,750.

The auction is the pivotal activity in the festival with funds going back into the community, including in the form of scholarships to graduating Alba-Golden seniors. The other tops boxes in descending order and buyers were Scott Lyles, bought by Big Country; Tony Phillips, bought by Seth’s Lake Fork Creek Restaurant; Randy Russell bought by Carr Construction; Lyles, bought by Duko Oil Company of Emory and Jones, bought by Mineola Community Bank.

Immediately after the auction, 10 hardy souls took the stage in the Sweet Potato Pie Eating Contest. Clint Bittner won a Jalapeno Tree gift card and “the Golden Potato” for his cast-iron constitution. The other good sports who dove into the pies were Tonya Slayton of KMOO Radio, Steven Steele of Peoples Telephone, Avery Spurger, Kelly Hambrick, Blake Hambrick, Sweet Potato Queen Bethany Carson and Miss Wood County Caitlin Lennon. Putting in a special appearance and taking a break from the campaign trail were Hillary Clinton (Terri Curts) and Donald Trump (Kevin Wright).

This year’s parade saw over 50 participants and winning entries were Virgil Roach’s wagon and mule team, First United Methodist Church of Mineola’s Texas Tater for Peoples Choice and Louis Sthrelow’s El Camino. The third and fourth grade PeeWee Cheerleaders and Football Players float won school floats; Phil and Sandy Hallman of Quitman’s 1965 model Allis-Chalmers was the winning antique tractor and Cruzzin’ Cousins won the overall float honor.

Mutton’ Busting took place early and the youngsters who won were, in 4 to 5 year olds, Taylor Armey, first; Levi Goforth, second and Lane Allen, third. In the 6 to 7 years olds were Brady Brewer, first; Jayla Sitar, second and Braylon Low, third.

And the fun was kicked off Thursday with pageants. The winners were Sweet Potato Queen, Bethany Carson and Gracie Pendergrass, first runner-up. Sweet Potato Princess was Fatima Cerrito.

Lil’ Miss in 6 to 9 months was Kaylee Pruitt with Halle Perkins first runner-up. Miss Curly Fry, 3 to 5 years, was Brayley Carr with Kyla Perkins first runner-up. In the Mr. Tater Tot, 13 to 24 months, Jax Turner was Mr. Tater Tot and Jack Stevenson was first runner-up. Miss Tater Tot, 13 to 35 months, was Breynlee Mason and first runner-up was Cassie George.

In the Mr. Potato Sprout, up to 12 months, Cullen McManus was Mr. Potato Sprout and Cotton Webb was first runner-up. Miss Potato Sprout, up to 12 months, was Brooklyn McCoy and first runner-up was Gabriella Jones. (See more winners next week.)