Oktoberfest kicks off United Way campaign

Four year old Clay Landoll, of Nevada, pedals with all his might during the pedal pull competition at Oktoberfest Saturday.

By Ben Holman

Nevada Daily Mail

On Saturday, the United Way of Vernon County hosted its annual Oktoberfest celebration in the field behind TeamBank at the corner of Washington and Walnut in Nevada.

According to Peggy Tedlock, of the United Way, although the event was not as well attended as it has been in past years, preliminary figures suggest that funds raised were comparable to past years. "I think it went well, she said, "the weather was absolutely wonderful."

Oktoberfest is an annual event that the United Way hosts in order to showcase the organizations it sponsors. Currently there are 19 agencies that receive United Way funding. The event's main purpose is not fund-raising. Among those sponsored agencies are the American Red Cross, DARE, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Nevada Youth Recreational Baseball, Meals on Wheels, Special Olympics and various other organizations.

This year's Oktoberfest celebration featured multiple booths and activities for the community to take part in. There was a pedal-pull, remote-control car racing, live entertainment, booths with craft and other activities, and merchants.

The main feature of Oktoberfest, however, is the annual chili cookoff. Entrants are judged on four categories: Aroma, appearance, taste and after-taste. This year's judges were Chic Wallace, Sutherlands, Monty Curtis, Curtis and Sons, Erin Ketterman, and Jim Dissler. After the winners are determined, the chili is then sold by the bowl and the proceeds are all donated to the United Way. Out of the nine entrants the winning chili was submitted by the U.S. Bank Red Hot Chili Mamas, a team consisting of three U.S. Bank employees, Janna Dody, Leva Richmond, and Joan Brown. Dody, who's recipe was used, said, 'I was excited -- I was surprised. I didn't expect to win." In second place were the Aquila Fireballs and in third was Mason-Morris Masonry. "It was great fun," said Carrie Mason, chair of the chili cookoff. "It's a blast ... they're all trying to be the first ones to get set up (in the morning)."

She said that the returning contestants even have a certain spot they have selected where they like to set up their table.

Eric Landoll, Oktoberfest co-chairman, said that he thought this year's event was a great success.

"We appreciate all the community support," he said. Landoll, who has been chairman for the past five or six years, said that he and David Slaby jointly chaired this year's Oktoberfest.