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- Jentre Swiger, 5, won the watermelon eating contest in her age category, ages 2-5. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
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- Brandon and Kendra Amos, husband and wife, participate in the watermelon eating contest Friday night at the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition in Mineral Wells. The two won the contest in their age category, 18 and up. Kendra Amos also won the hay bale toss in her category as well of 26 and up. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Jentre Swiger, 5, won the watermelon eating contest in her age category, ages 2-5. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
MINERAL WELLS — The West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition started its closing weekend with a bang by hosting family friendly contests like the hay bale throwing contest, watermelon eating contest and the bubblegum blowing contest on Friday.
Vice President of the Fair Board Russ Collins noted that while Tuesday was the biggest weeknight for the fair, Friday quickly took the title. Collins noted that Friday night was the start of the weekend and was also a mud bog night.
“Mud bogs tend to do that,” said Collins.
Tuesday night was the opening night for the fair, but they also decided to do something they have not done in 10 years, host a rodeo.
“It drew a decent crowd,” said Collins.
Brandon and Kendra Amos, husband and wife, participate in the watermelon eating contest Friday night at the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition in Mineral Wells. The two won the contest in their age category, 18 and up. Kendra Amos also won the hay bale toss in her category as well of 26 and up. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Collins also noted the fair had a few sponsors so they decided to “try (the rodeo) again and it ended up doing really well.”
Friday also had the hay bale throw, watermelon eating contest and bubblegum blowing contest.
All of the contests were divided into divisions based on age and gender. The hay bale throw had divisions for ages 1-8, 9-15, 16-25 and 26 and over. The entry fee for the contest was $1.
The watermelon eating contest was divided into age divisions of 2-5, 6-11 and 18 and over. The entry fee was $0.50; first place in each category won $3 while second place won $2.
The bubblegum blowing contest had age divisions of 0-5, 6-10, 11-16 and 17 and over. First place in each category won “a year’s worth of bubble gum.” Second place in each category won “a month’s supply of bubble gum.” Third place in each category won “a week’s supply of bubble gum.” The contestants were allowed one piece of gum to blow a bubble. The first to blow the required size and number of bubbles won.
The schedule for Saturday’s events include:
Livestock Gate opens according to livestock schedule.
* 9 a.m.: Antique Tractor Pulls (Pulling Track), Garden Tractor Tug Pull (ATV Drag Track)
* 12 p.m.: Ticket Gates open, Quarter Bingo
* 1 p.m.: Carnival opens, Garden Tractor Speed Pull (ATV Drag Track), Kids Pedal Tractor Pull registration (Fair Office)
* 2 p.m.: Kids Pedal Tractor Pull (Fair Office)
* 3 p.m.: Spitting Contest Registration
* 3:30 p.m.: Spitting Contest
* 4 p.m.: Truck Pull registration, Stone Throw registration (Fair Office), Livestock Learning Stations open (beef). Phil’s Future Farmers (Livestock Area) 4-8 p.m.
* 4:30 p.m.: Stone Throw
* 5 p.m.: Truck and Tractor Pulls (Track Area)
* 8 p.m.: Andy Hager Music (Main Stage)
* 11 p.m.: Fairgrounds close
Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com