Deer Festival Is Fun Day for All

“A good time was had by all,” is the best way to sum up Saturday’s 45th annual Deer Festival on the Square.

From the children’s fun run that began at 7:30 a.m. to the last vendor taking down his tent about 6 p.m., thousands of people enjoyed various activities around the Square.

Depending on who you poll, the best part was the train, the entertainment, the crowning of the queen, the parade, the arts and crafts, the food…and boy was there a lot of good food, or any number of other things.

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Many think the best part of the Deer Festival is connecting with those people you only see once a year at the festival. Whatever it is, people came out to experience it.

Caitlin Tillman was named Deer Festival Queen, and Amy Anuszcyk was named first runner-up. Little Miss Fawn Sarah Beth Waters was also introduced.

The winner of the deer with the biggest rack was 11-year-old Taylor Wages, and the winner of the heaviest deer contest was Nate Jones. The youngest successful hunter award went to Lucca Ferrante. Three-year-old Wayland Chandler received an honorable mention for the deer he killed just outside Jasper Co.

The winners of the Pink Ladies quilt raffle were Jim Holman of Monticello and J.J. Hill of Conyers. The winner of the Chamber of Commerce gun raffle was Daphine Couch. Larrys’ 4-Way gave away numerous bows to lucky winners. There were also other raffles.

Alan Black again won the Deer Dash and a complete list of winners, by category, is available on several websites including coolrunning.com and active.com.

Winners in the venison cook-off included Jimmy Mudd, first, in the barbecue category; Sybil Bentley, first, and Liz Caldwell, second, in the chili category, and Liz Caldwell, first, and Joseph Caldwell and Branson Parish, second, in the open category.