July 13, 2016 (Seed Spitting Photos, Speed Eating Photos) - With Rotary Club President, Jason Balkcom, leading the events, a group vied for prize money and bragging rights at the What-A-Melon Festival's most competitive events - Seed Spitting and Speed Eating.
The Seed Spitting kicked off at 4pm Saturday, July 9th with festival goers taking their turn trying to propel their seeds the furthest. Each contestant had two tries before the official mark was made by Rotarian Scott Stanfield. When the seeds were no longer flying through the air, and the audience thought it safe again, contestants surrounded the official speed eating table and took to seeing who could down their watermelon slice the quickest in a display, which certainly would have horrified the everyday well-mannered diner.
The following left victorious:
Seed Spitting
Kids
1st place - Artura Montemayor
2nd place - Kenny Montemayor
3rd place - Stephanie Santana
Youth
1st place - Raylee Askew
2nd place - Franuele Arayo
3rd place - Caine Snell
Women
1st place - Isabelle Santana
2nd place - Erica Santana
3rd place - Brittany Shofner
Men
1st place - Rob Payme
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Chris Matis
Speed Eating
Kids (0-7)
1st place - Fisher Bright
2nd place - Zac Payne
3rd place - Arturo Montemayor
Youth (8-15)
1st place - Neera Smith
2nd place - Neena Smith
3rd place - Raylee Askew
Women
1st place - Brittany Shofner
2nd place - Cindy Shofner
3rd place - Barbara Harding
Men
1st place - Marthen Lumingkewas
2nd place - Aaron Weaver
3rd place - Nehemias Santana