Whether you wanted to cook a steak or bake apple pie, show off that classic 1969 Camaro or your handsome beard, or throw a skillet, there were lots of competitions happening this weekend at Frontier Days. Here’s our best efforts at a complete list:
{Editor’s Note: There were lots of moving parts and lots of contests overlapped, so this list is our best efforts. If we misspelled a name or make a mistake, please let us know privately. If your contest isn’t included here, it’s because we do not yet have that information from the volunteer in charge of that activity. It will be added to this article as soon as we have it.}
Classic Car Cruise In
If you’re a car person, then Friday night’s Classic Car Cruise In was a treat. The field across the road from the Moore County Tennis Courts overflowed with classic car and truck of every variety. There were two awards given out Best of Show and People’s Choice. The Frontier Days Classic Car Cruise In Best of Show went to Alan Layne’s of Tracy City and his 67 Ford Bronco and the People Choice Award went Anthony and Stephanie Gentle’s 1973 Camaro. The couple live in Estill Springs. Both winners received engraved barrel heads. Special thanks to Bennie Hoover for organizing the event.
SCA Steak Cook Off
The Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) Frontier Days Steak Cookoff on Friday night ended up being a huge success. Chamber President Marsha Manley Hale said prior to the event that it she got 20 teams to participate in the first annual event, she’d be thrilled. She knocked that goal out of Wiseman Park and organizers say three times that many teams may show up and vie for the $1,000 grand prize next year.
The top 10 winner in order with scores were: #1 Karen Wright (249.4), #2 Elisabeth Lipa (248.5), #3 Jason Rains (248.3), #4 David Rinehart (248.1), #5 Steve Noble (247.7), #6 Michael McDearman (246.9), #7 Kristi Graham (246.7), #8 Tommy Foutch (246.5), #9 Ryan Purdom (246.4), and #10 Gene Skillin (246.1). Karen Wright also earned a Golden Ticket, which means she’s earned a shot at cooking at the SCA World Championship. Special thanks to Dr. Bryant Morton for organizing the event. Also thank you to Woodard’s Market for providing the meat for the contest.
Apple Pie Contest
In a nod to the days when Frontier Days always happened the weekend before the Fourth of July, this years Frontier Days Committee thought an Apple Pie Contest would be grand. Jennifer Penn brought home the blue ribbon in the adult category with Nancy Primus placing second. In the kids division, Macy Sanders won the blue ribbon with Harper Demetris taking home second place. A special thank you to Brenda Hannah for organizing the event.
Kids SCA Cookoff
The adults cooked on Friday but kids got their chance on Saturday at the SCA non-sanctioned Kids Pork Chop Cookoff. In the teen division, Samantha Underwood snagged the $125 grand prize followed by #2 Miles Sullenger, #3 Macy Sanders, #4 Jenny Sanders, #5 Waylon Reese, and #6 Jenalee Deal. In the kids’ division, Olivia Noble took home first place followed by Rylee Purdom. Special thanks to Branda Hannah and Dr. Bryant Morton for organizing the event. Also thank you to Woodard’s Market for providing the meat for the contest.
First Annual Ladies Skillet Toss
Listen who knew that letting women try their hand (and arm) at tossing a cast iron skillet would be so popular. Over 100 ladies stood in line in the heat to take their turn and there were very few husbands in sight. Imagine that. There five different ages categories and they all seemed to have a blast. The top five throws in each age division got a call back for a toss off.
In the Little Ladies (ages 10-14), Sommer Hornung of Tullahoma took home first place with a 29.5 throw and Layla Brown of Orlinda placed second with a 28 foot throw.
In the 15-29 age division, Essence Mastin of Fayetteville won the grand prize with a whopping 40.5 toss followed by Morgan Rollins with a 39.5 toss.
In the 30-49 age division, Amy Taylor of Moore County won with a 49.5 toss and there was a tie for second place resulting in a toss off. Katrina Douglas and Shannon West tied with 49 foot tosses. During the tie-breaking throw Katrina (or Hurricane Katrina as she called herself) got the longest throw of the day at 50 feet. Somebody break the news to her husband. She won the engraved barrelhead as the overall champion.
In the 50-69 age division, two Moore County gals snagged top honors: Debra Hulvey won with a 39.5 toss and Tanya Vann came in second with a 36 foot toss.
In the 70 and over category, Cheryl Otsuka of Winchester won with a 27.5 toss. Cheryl just moved here from Chicago and enjoyed a large cheering section. Our very own Marge Gammill came in second. Marge works at the Metro Moore County Sheriff’s Department.
A special thanks to Bonnie Lewis for organizing the events and Amber Neal, Leanne Durm, Sherrie Copeland, and Marty Copeland for dutifully measuring each throw. Also special thanks to event volunteers Pat Jones, Jordan Barrier, and Victoria Barrier as well as Lodge Cast Iron for sponsoring the event.
Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull
If you weren’t a Moorehead Pavilion on Saturday at 3 p.m., you really missed out. Boys and girls from all over Moore County and the surrounding counties showed up to participate in the first annual Frontier Days Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. And y’all, these kiddos had a blast. In order to keep things fair, organizers divided kids into four different weight categories.
In the 31-40 pound weight class, the winner was Rowen Dickert followed by Ella Oosting in second place, and Leo Taylor in third place.
The biggest class was the 41 to 50 pound division with 15 total participants. Four different kiddos – Jacob Gray, Annie Herman, Ella Kennamer, and Luke Boswell all managing full pulls, which resulted in a pull off. Oh the drama! In the end, Luke Boswell took first place, followed by Annie Herman, and Jacob Gray.
In the 51-60 pound weight class, Jackson Gray took first place followed by Noah McKinney and Conor Dickert.
In the 61 to 70 pound weight division, Anna McKinney took home first place followed by SJ Herman, and Luke Cash.
In the 71 to 80 pound weight class, Gannon Dean won followed by Howard Hornung and Graeson McGehee.
In the 91 to 100 pound weight class the winner was Ryan Couch Followed by Lilly Millsbough, and Matthew Wilson.
The winners all receive special engraved wooden plaques in the shape of a tractor and all kids received a participation medal. Special thanks to Mike McGehee for giving all the pull tractors and the sled a fresh coat of paint. Thanks to the Jack Daniel Maintenance Crew as well as Daniel Gray and Clint Fanning for building the sled and thanks to Frontier Days Committee Members John and Robin LaCook for organizing the event.
We’ll add the Cultural Arts Exhibits and Frontier Days Beard Contest winners as soon as we have them. Thanks to everyone who put in the hard work or resources to make Frontier Days 2023 a huge success. This includes the Barrel Man, Kevin Sanders, for engraving all the awards. The Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce sponsors Frontier Days. •
{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We tells the stories of local folks here in Lynchburg as well as those happening across Tennessee and the American South that we believe may be of interest to our readers. Like what we’re doing? You can support us for just $5 per month by following this link.}