| Citizen brings back old street game to Oregon Trail Days | |
| July 14, 2011 Pedro Escobar, Citizen Intern | |
This fierce competition is, “something my family has done for part of their annual family reunion and it’s a lot of fun,” says Citizen Editor Lisa Betz.
Betz explains that every year leading up to Oregon Trail Days, she will post a status and ask Facebook friends what their favorite memory of OTD is from previous years.
“They always talk about the old street games and we use to have buffalo chip tossing, bed races, pie eating contests and each was a lot of fun. A lot of people want to see that type of thing come back to the festival,” said Betz. “So rather than doing something that’s already been done, I had this idea a week before OTD and I scrambled and scrambled to get things organized so that we can get the street blocked off a little longer after the Kiddie Parade.”
The competition will feature four categories which are as follows: children eight and under, children ages nine to 12, and 13 and over will be in the adult category. The adult category will also be divided into a male and female groups.
First place winners for each category will be awarded with a t-shirt, trophy and a free meal from McDonald’s. The winners will also get their picture taken and be featured in the Gering Citizen. Although second and third won’t be awarded the names will be announced for placing.
To participate you need to show up immediately after the Kiddie Parade. Everything will be set up in front of the Gering Citizen and Gering Bakery. Every participant’s name will be taken down and the best marshmallow spit will stay on the street until it is beaten. Awards will be given out after results are tabulated and each contestant has completed their spit.
Veteran marshmallow spitting contestant Betz is hesitant in sharing her secrets but did give tips, “It does have a lot to do with the timing of when you put the marshmallow in your mouth until you spit, and there is sort of a right amount of saliva that you want to get going. I recommend practicing one or two times before the competition down because it’s not as easy as you think.”
If all goes well, Betz believes there will be more street games coming back to OTD. She’s been talking to different people on Main Street in Gering and feels they can bring back the old street games if there’s enough interest.
Special thanks to Culligan Water which will be sponsoring water for the participants and also to McDonald’s for sponsoring the free meal awards.
Come on out and get your spit on!
Read more by Pedro Escobar, Citizen Intern
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