Off and on rain failed to dampen the spirits of the Golden Sweet Potato Festival Saturday.

From a crowd-pleasing chicken calling contest to a benefit auction that topped $37,000 and incredible entertainment, the day’s events, and four days leading up to the grand finale, celebrated small town life in East Texas and the famous orange tuber.

Kalli Trimble was crowned Sweet Potato Queen Saturday with assistance from Miss Texas Ellie Breaux and last year’s queen, Cacie Lennon.

When put on the spot to choose the winner of the highly-competitive chicken calling contest, Breaux turned to the crowd that clearly favored Eli Nivison.

The auction ended with a $4,000 bid for a Tory Burch purse donated by Rutledge Remodel and Construction that will go to a scholarship for the queen.

Bidders John’s Tire, Bent Creek Customs, Wood Shed Truss, Rogers Construction, J&H Septic and Dee’s Paint and Body combined for the winning total.

Other specialty auction items were a bench donated by Workhorse Truck and Trailer repair that went for $1,600 to Grandma Cleda’s for the James McDowell scholarship fund that will benefit a student pursuing a non-traditional education path.

A Willie Nelson painting by Karen Musgraves and donated by Rogers Construction went for $1,450 to Wood Shed Truss that will benefit the new playground fund at the festival grounds.

The traditional first box of sweet potatoes to kick off the auction went for $1,800 to People’s Telephone, the second box for $1,900 to Mineola Community Bank and the third for $1,000 to First National Bank of East Texas.

Kelly Conley served as auctioneer.

The day kicked off with a fun run followed by the parade downtown at 10 a.m. The tractor pull had to be canceled due to the wet conditions, but things moved under the pavilion for entertainment from the Alba-Golden High School marching band, Raphael Espinoza Music Academy students, local favorite Swoape and the Gent Mountain Grassburs, three teenage brothers from Jacksonville featuring blue grass and a cappella gospel.

Dance troupes from Dance Dimensions in Mineola and Alter Studio in Winnsboro also performed.

The evening was capped off with a concert by Todd Brewer Band and Elvis tribute artist Gib Maynard.

Tuesday Pageant Winners

Miss Potato Sprout - Saylor Houtz

• Best Stage Presence - Emmy Lou Hays

• Best Dressed - Delainey James

Miss Potato Spud - Eloise Wilcoxson

• Best Stage Presence - Ensley McGinnis

• Best Dressed - Evvie Jae Galyean

Miss Tator Tot - Ruth Ann Hays

• Best Stage Presence - Lyla Richardson

• Best Dressed - CharLee Dow

Miss Curly Fry - Amari Bohannan

• Best Stage Presence - Sawyer Stevenson

• Best Dressed - Skyler Webb

Mr. Potato Sprout - Ty Holifield

• Best Stage Presence - Zacarius Wheeler

• Best Dressed - Zaiden Wheeler

Mr. Tater Tot - Bo Levi Lyles

• Best Stage Presence - Carter Moffett

• Best Dressed - Brody Soares

Mr. Curly Fry - Abel Johnson

• Best Stage Presence - Beckham Meiners

• Best Dressed - Jhett McClenny

Thursday Pageant Winners

Lil’ Miss Sweet Potato - Stella George 

• Stage Presence - Amelia Royce Jones

• Best Costume - Hadelynn Webster 

Lil’ Miss Potato Wedge  - Ava Cole 

• Stage Presence - Cassi George 

• Best Costume - Brynlee Mason 

Jr. Miss Sweet Potato - Harper Christian 

• Stage Presence - Kynlee Irvin 

• Best Costume - Greenley Herrington 

Sweet Potato Princess - Piper Hallman 

• Stage Presence - Shaylee Stracener 

• Best Costume - Landrie Boyd