Published: October 04, 2008 10:40 pm         

Popcorn Festival offers a tasty good time

Popcorn eating contest, good weather help draw big crowd

BRAZIL — There are two important words when it comes to the Popcorn Festival of Clay County: Eat fast.

At least that was the advice many of the winners from Saturday’s popcorn eating contest could offer.

Fifty people ages five and up competed in various heats for cash prizes.

The rules were simple: Only one piece can go in the mouth at a time, though it was OK to stuff mouths; anything dropped on the floor must be eaten or there would be a one second penalty added to the final time per piece; and all popcorn must not only be in the mouth, but it must be swallowed to count.

Children were given 30 grams of puffed popcorn to avoid choking and adults were given 25 grams of regular popcorn.

For the age groups of 5 to 8, 9 to 12 and 13 to 17, the winner received $50 while the winner of the 18 and older category won $200.

Eight-year-old Corynne Moody of Fishers won in the first heat. Though she attends the festival every year with her grandmother, this was her first time in the popcorn eating contest.

Her heat was close as it came down to the last swallow between her and another child. Parents yelled encouragement to their children, such as “Fill your mouth up!” or “Eat! Eat!”

“It was really fun,” Moody said about the contest.

She didn’t know what she was going to spend her prize money on, but she did know she was going to go shopping.

Tyler Jenkins, 12, of Brazil was different. He said he planned to put his winnings in his savings account.

After losing the contest last year, Jenkins fixed what he did wrong to win in the 9 to 12 year-old category. His secret, he said was drinking more water as he ate.

It took three rounds to determine a winner for the 18 and over category with 26-year-old Stoney Fisher of Brazil from the second round remaining victorious after no one in the third round could beat his 1:57 time.

“It was awesome, just like this whole popcorn festival has been,” said Fisher, a first time popcorn eating contestant.

With plans to get married next weekend, Fisher said he plans to put his money toward the honeymoon.

Having had “incredible” weather this weekend, Janice Cox, vice president of the popcorn festival said they’ve been really busy.

Today’s performance from the Seven Bridges Band, an Eagles tribute band, is new also. Not new, but exciting will be a $250 drawing at 5 p.m. today, Cox said.

People must be present to win, she said.

Another exciting thing at the festival this year was the taping of the Food Network Channel Production of Festivals, Boardwalks and Fairs.

Festivities today run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evelyn Brown, president of the Popcorn Festival said it’s a good festival to attend because it’s affordable and family friendly.

Admission and entertainment are free and rides are one ticket with the price of a ticket as $1.50, she said.

For more information about the festival, visit

www.popcornfest.net.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.