Awards Abound at 2019 Heritage Festival

picture of Rocky Top Award winner for best portrayal of the festival theme, More Fiddlin' Around, was A& B Bookkeeping and Tax Service. Picture has two white rocking chairs in front of a banner made of pumpkins that say More Fiddlin' Around. The rocking chairs are surrounded by mums in washtubs with a fiddle displayed on haybales.

Rocky Top Award winner for best portrayal of the festival theme, More Fiddlin' Around, was A& B Bookkeeping and Tax Service.

Submitted by Marilyn Toppins on

At Wilson Park, over 100 vendors competed for various booth awards at the 2019 Union County Heritage Festival last Saturday. A&B Bookkeeping & Tax Service claimed The Rocky Top award for the best portrayal of the festival theme. The Best Heritage Award for the best example of Union County history portrayed in a craft went to Martin Shafer for making maul handles on an Ole' Time Hit 'n Miss Engine & Lathe. Ralph Webster of Webster's Woodcrafts won Best Unique Craft Item for his handmade Black Walnut Bowl. The Best Unique Art Item for the portrayal of Union County music and icons in painting was awarded to MJM Studios.

The Best Unique Item for Children was Dewey Crowe's wooden carousel. The Best Heritage Demonstrator was Nathan Asher for showcasing his blacksmithing talents while ICARE received the award for the Best Modern Demonstrator for setting up a trailer to illustrate how teens can hide drugs in plain sight.

The Heritage Olympics were sponsored by Lodge Cast Iron and included four competitive skills. Carley Sexton won 1st place and Joannan Kadron won 2nd place in the Skillet Toss for under 18. In the Skillet Toss for 18 and over, 1st was Elizabeth Tindell, 2nd was Amber Ereth, and 3rd was Linda Myers. In the Feed Bag Toss, Zach Firman placed first and Mark England was the runner- up. Derrick Whiteaker edged out Cooper Ray to take the award for Nail Driving. In the Pumpkin Seed Spitting for 8 and under, Sonja Riffey placed first just ahead of Asher Effler. Emily Riffey won 1st and Aubrey Phillips was 2nd in Pumpkin Seed Spitting for 9 to 17 years old. Shannon DeWitt of UT Extension Union County hosted the events.

Maynardville Coin Laundry sponsored the Pie Contest that was coordinated by Alyshia Victoria of UT Extension Union County. In the Fruit Pies, 1st place was Elizabeth Tindell for Apple Gingerbread Pie. JR Haas with Blueberry Cranberry Pie took 2nd while Kathy Venturella with Just Apple-Apple Pie was 3rd in the same category. The popular Nut Pie category had 1st place-Shirley McMurtrie for Black Walnut Pie, 2nd place-Jonathan Tindell for German Chocolate Pie, and 3rd place-Kathy Venturella for Maple Walnut Pie. In the Other category, Elizabeth Tindell won first for Pumpkin Apple Butter Pie, Kathy Venturella with Bayou Brownie Pie was second, and 3rd was Jeremiah Tindell for Buttermilk Pie. Elizabeth Tindell claimed Grand Champion Pie Baker with her Caramel Pecan Pie and received $100 for her effort. First place winners took home $50 each.

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Asher Effler awards the Best Heritage Craft Item of Distinction to Ralph and Jewel Webster for Webster's Woodcraft handmade bowls made from black walnut and cherry.

Nathan Asher, blacksmith, and Asher Effler display Nathan's award for the Best Demonstration of a Heritage Craft.

ICARE won the Best Modern Demonstration Award for their interactive display of how teens hide drugs in plain sight.

Participants exhibit strength to throw a 50 pound feed bag.

Skillet Throw winners.

Martin Shafer auctions Grand Champion Pie Baker Elizabeth Tindell's Caramel Pecan Pie.