July 13, 2018 (Album) - Dogs ruled the day in the What-A-Melon Festival Pet Show held on the Center square Friday, July 13, as they were the only species under the big tent.
A variety of canine specimens graced the stage and presented themselves with their human handlers for the celebrity judges. Each handler crossed the stage and had their pet demonstrate a trick or just show off their coat and personality for the judges consideration.
The following are the results of the show as well as recognition of the event sponsors:
Best of Show - Zema, a 5-year-old Toy Poodle shown by Alyssa Bowers
Best Stage Presence - Pongo, a 7-year-old Dalmatian shown by Sherry Soape
Sassiest - Dolly Jane, 10-year-old Shih Tzu shown by Allie Jane Windham
Most Obedient - Bella, a 2 1/2-year-old Chihuahua shown by Cam Askew
Best Dressed - Ruby, a rescue dog and a beagle mix shown by Jacie Lee
Best Trick - Max who was shown by Stephanie Santana
Friendliest - Little T, a 5-year-old Chihuahua shown by Leslie Gill
Most Talkative - Doodie, an 8-month-old Toy Poodle shown by Zoe Horton
Thank you to Stephanie Snell for being the emcee for the event and to the judges who were: Meg Camp, Past Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board; David Nix with Denning Animal Rescue; Savannah Christensen, 2017 Florida Watermelon Queen and 2018 National Watermelon Queen, and Hannah Crisp, 2018 Texas Watermelon Queen.
Platinum sponsors for the festival are Farmers State Bank, Toledo-Bend.com, and Shelby Savings Bank. Additional sponsors who make the festival possible are (Gold Sponsors) City of Center; Focused Care of Center; (Silver Sponsors) Center Glass; R&D Distributors; Citizens Bank; Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative; ACE Hardware; Kyle Coffin, DDS; Coral Cactus; Texas Credit; (Bronze Sponsors) Toledo Automotive / NAPA; Sandy Wheeler State Farm; and Tammy Steptoe Realty. Be sure to thank all the festival sponsors.
Proceeds raised from the What-A-Melon Festival by the Rotary Club of Center are donated back to various organizations in the community to help fight hunger, provide scholarships, support the youth, and more!
