Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The weather cooperated fully with the 106th Versailles Pumpkin Show giving four days sunshine and summer-like temperatures last week.

From the first night when the King and Queen were crowned to the last dance at the Tyson Auditorium in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 28 people enjoyed a variety of events.

Where were the big pumpkins?
Missing from the event were the big pumpkins. Each year people bring their pumpkins to see which one is the heaviest. Although the weather was perfect for the pumpkin show itself, it hadn’t cooperated throughout the growing season, making it one of the worst. Only three pumpkins were seen at this year’s show with the weight coming in nearly half below some of the record years.

Bill Hughes of Versailles, had the largest pumpkin officially entered in the contest and it only weighed in at 421 pounds, almost half of some he and his wife Wilma have raised in past years. Second place went to Clyde Allen of Versailles, who raised a 194 pound pumpkin. The Allen’s have raised pumpkins for several years and noted that this year many of theirs rotted in the field.

A pumpkin was brought to the contest by Bill Graham of Dupont. However, according to Allen, he didn’t get registered by the deadline and wasn’t eligible to enter. His pumpkin was the largest one at this year’s event weighing in at 440 pounds.

Royalty crowned
On Wednesday evening, the King and Queen, Thomas Welch, representing South Ripley and Jordan Vinup, representing the Southeastern Career Center, and also a senior at South Ripley, were given the top honor. Their court included second runners-up: Blake Sutton and Tanaha Simon, both from Jac-Cen-Del, and first runners-up: Matthew Conner, Southeastern Career Center, attending Batesville High School and Chelsea Durham, South Ripley.

Thursday night Ripley Publishing Co. sponsored the Prince and Princess Contest where Aubrey Vogt from Milan was crowned Princess with Garrett Rogers, from South Ripley taking the Prince's crown. Their court included: second runners-up: Adrik Herbert and Emma Engel, both from Sunman
Elementary, first runners-up: Colton Comer, Jac-Cen-Del, and Sarah Price, St. Louis Catholic School.

Contest winners
The first annual vocal contest was held on Wednesday night with Kristen Jolly taking the first place prize of $300. Second place went to Kelly Bowling who received $100, and third place to Cheyenne Burress, 11, who won $50. Burress also sang the National Anthem for the opening of the parade on Saturday.

President of the Versailles Lions Club Jerry Gilpin noted that the vocal contest was a “huge success” and plans are to expand on the contest.

In the Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest held on Thursday night, Quentin Hackman, representing Milan High School, took the title for eating the most pumpkin pie in the boy’s category. Katie Polly was the girl’s champion. She hails from South Ripley. The contestants had one minute to eat as much pumpkin pie, topped with whipped cream, with no utensils. The winners received $50.00 in cash from Ripley Publishing Co., sponsors of the event. Every participant was awarded a Blizzard treat from the Versailles Dairy Queen.

Thursday’s activities on stage also included naming the winners of Ripley Publishing Co.’s 20th annual Pumpkin Baking Contest. The Best Baker award went to Jackie Murray of Versailles for the second year in a row. She had submitted Pumpkin Taco filled pasta shells that the judges found delightful. She won $200 and a plaque.

Others winners included: Linda Hurelbrink of Versailles for the best decorated entry. This was a cake with a fall cupcake design. She won $25.00.

In the Kid’s category, first place went to Elizabeth Sutherlin of Milan for her pumpkin pie; second place to Shelby Myers of Rexville for her cake; and third place to Adam Clark of Columbus, for his bundt cake.

Vickie Wilson of Holton, took first place in the Miscellaneous Pumpkin Goodies category for her pumpkin pasta puffs; second place went to Kelly Rea of Rexville for her festive pumpkin dip, and third place went to Betty Canada of Versailles.

In the Pumpkin Cakes and Cake Rolls division, Pam Thomas of Cross Plains won first place; Wilma Myers of Holton, second place; followed by Melissa Lochard of Friendship, taking third.

For Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Rolls, first place went to Denise Roark of Milan; second place to Ollie Wagner of Versailles; and third place to Jenn Schnebelt of Cross Plains.

Linda Pettit of Versailles took the first place for the best pumpkin pie with Vickie Wilson, of Holton, placing second, and Melissa Lochard of Friendship, placing third in this category.

A cheerleading contest on Saturday saw the East Central Trojans taking first place for their routine; second place went to South Ripley Raiders and New Washington Mustangs were third.

Parade entry winners
• The Best Float went to Patterson Nursery and Garden Center.

• Youth Organization Float went to Jac-Cen-Del FFA, first place and South Ripley FFA, second place.

• The winners of the Organization Float were Tri Kappa, first; and Madison Bicentennial, second place.

• Winners of the Religious Organization Float went to Shelby Christian Church, first place and Hopewell Baptist Church was named second place.

• First place in the Agri Business Float category went to Franklin Feed Sales and second went to Wood Farm & Tractor Supply.

• First place in the Business Float went to the Napoleon State Bank and Versailles Service Center was named second.

Gilpin was pleased with the overall success of the 2008 Versailles Pumpkin Show saying, “We had a record year for advance sales for tickets.” He said the food booths all did well and the dance was a huge success.

He noted that the late Jim Whitehead was responsible for getting the club to book Tyler Dickerson and the Casino’s who were both big hits as this year’s stage entertainment. He also commended Robert Vestal for a “job well done” on the pedal pull on Saturday where according to Gilpin more than 150 kids were involved.

All of the proceeds from the event goes back into the community. Last year the Versailles Lions Club gave over $14,000 to make the community they serve a better place to live.

Lions Club members were still on the job on Sunday as clean-up began. By Monday there was no sign of the festival, just memories for those who attended. Members of the Versailles Lions Club are already critiquing this year’s event and making plans to make next year even better.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Pictured above are the Prince and Princess of the 106th Versailles Pumpkin Show, Garrett Rogers of South Ripley, son of Danita and Bryant Rogers, and Aubrey Vogt, of Milan Elementary, daughter of Josh and Misty Vogt. They were named Thursday night.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Picture shows Bill Hughes of Versailles with the biggest pumpkin entered in this year's pumpkin show. It weighed 421 pounds.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO Pictured above is Cassie Borders of Versailles, the first person to get a chance to get in a money booth and grab for cash at the Friendship State Bank's Ca$h Friend-Zee booth at the pumpkin show. The booth drew a large crowd each night and three names were drawn with each given the opportunity to get in the money booth and grab as much cash as they could in 30 seconds.