What-A-Melon Festival 08 - July 13, 2008

Opening Day Ceremony Photos (Click Here)

Biggest Melon Contest was won by Darrell Matthews of Joaquin with a melon weighing in at 151.75 lbs. Second place went to Jenny Johnson with 138 lbs. and Third was Elzie Tee Rudd with 137.5 lbs. Fourth place went to Glen Oats with 130.75 lbs. and Fifth to Jaleigh Johnson with a 127.5 lb. watermelon.(Click Here for entire list). Biggest Melon Photos (Click Here)

This year the three largest melons were auctioned off with Brookshire Bros. as high bidder on the largest melon with a bid of $700. Kyle Bush/Stallion took the 2nd largest melon for a $500 bid and the 3rd largest melon went to Mettauer, Shires and Adams with a $300 bid.

Pet Contest/Seed Spitting/Biggest Bite Photos (Click Here)
Seed Spitting Contest Winners: (Names submitted by The Light & Champion)
10 and Under 1st, Brandon Dirden; 2nd, Hunter Brown; 3rd, Colin Willcox.
Over 10: 1st, David Hemphill; 2nd, Corey Scott; 3rd, Jordan Weatherford.
Biggest Bite 10 and Under: 1st, Asia Fontenot; 2nd, Hunter Brown; 3rd, Blair Deal.
Over 10: 1st, Bridgett Raymond; 2nd, Laura Willcox; 3rd, James Wolfe.

Pet Contest (Submitted by John Krueger, editor, The Light and Champion )
There was a large turnout Friday night for the What-A-Melon Pet Contest and Show. Canines made up the majority of the entrants, but there was also a variety of other animals from cats to racoons.
In the Dog category, Cornelia Hartman’s Bhangi captured Best of Show honors. Other top finishers included: First place, Bella the Mini Yorkie, owned by Ashley and Cory Ivey; second place, Mickey, owned by Gayla Adams; third place, Jake the Pit Bull, owned by Lane Manchack.
Other standouts in the Dog category included: Biggest Dog, Maggie, owned by Amber Ginn; Smallest Dog, Miki, owned by Anita Cervantes; Shortest Tail, Every, owned by Bobby French; Friendliest, Poncho, owned by Tre Burns; Most Lovable, Jacques, owned by Tori Baker; Most Festive, Phoebe, owned by Jeffrey and Mallory Keith; Most Ear-resistable, Tooter, owned by Miranda McGee; Calmest, Scooter, owned by Jeffrey and Mallory Keith; Waggiest Tail, Flash, owned by Zack Fausett; Best Trick, Beaster, owned by Jessica Berry; Most Shy, Sammy, owned by Linda Wood; and Best Coat, Ozzie, owned by Mallory Fausett
In the Feline category, the top honors went to: first place, Tiny, owned by Travis Johnson; second place, Stuffers Williams, owned by Jessica Williams; third place, Money Johnson, owned by Jason Johnson.
In the Miscellaneous category, the top honors went to: first place, Selena, owned by Josie Martinez; and second place, R.J. the racoon, owned by Jessica Berry.


Pageant/Talent Contest Photos (Click Here)
Pageant Winners (Names submitted by Shelia Burch)

The 2008 What-a-Melon Pageant winners were as follow Magon Saenz was crowned Baby Miss What-A-Melon and also received an award for Best Smile, Callianna Cassell was first runner up and received an award for Best Fashion, Carolyn Mathis was crowned second runner up and received awards for Most Beautiful and Photogenic, and Makenna Windham was crowned third runner up.

Kiersten Richards was Toddler Miss What-A-Melon and also had the Best Smile award. And Baylee Whiteside was first runner up and received awards for Best Fashion, Most Beautiful and Photogenic.

In the Tiny Division, Tyzianna Bennett was crowned Tiny Miss What-A-Melon and also received the Most Beautiful award. River Williford was first runner up and received the Photogenic award and also won Talent and the People's Choice Award. Kadence Polley was second runner up and received the Best Smile award and Ashley Allen won third runner up and the Best Fashion award.

Taylor Horton won the Little Miss What-A-Melon Divison and also the Most Beautiful and Photogenic awards. Haley Kawaja won first runner up and the Best Smile award, and Baili Proffitt won second runner up and the Best Fashion award.

Jaden Washington won the next division, Miss Petite What-A-Melon and also the Most Beautiful award. First runner up went to Kelsey Barton as well as the Photogenic award. Madison Proctor won second runner up and the Best Fashion award. Mackenzie Proctor was third runner up and had the Best Smile award. Fourth runner up went to Kimberleigh Reed and Kelsey Chism received the Future Queen award.

In the Pre-Teen division Megan Swartout won Pre-Teen Miss What-A-Melon, Talent, Best Fashion, Most Beautiful and the Photogenic Award. Delaney Emanis received first runner up, Best Smile and first runner up in Talent.

Krysta Arbuckle won Teen Miss What-A-Melon, Photogenic, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion, Best Smile and the Adult Talent Award. While Sara Fox won the title of 2008 Miss What-A-Melon, Best Fashion, Most Beautiful and Photogenic, and Cara Ramsey received first runner up and the Best Smile Award.

The pageant had lots of beautiful girls which makes it difficult for the judges to pick a winner. They are all winners to have the courage and ambition to get on stage in front of hundreds of people. The staff of the What-A-Melon pageant would like to thank everyone for their support of these kids.