Sweet tooths savor Belpre Apple Butter Stir Off
Tom Webster dips apples for apple sauce to become apple butter. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
A small crowd gathered at Civitan Park to buy homemade apple butter the Pioneer Presbyterian Church of Belpre was selling. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kayla Robinson, 6, 2019 Little Miss Apple of Your Eye, from left, Keaghan Pitman, 10, 2019 Jr. Miss Apple of Your Eye, and Emily Harnager, 15, 2019 Miss Teen Apple of Your Eye, stand together for photos after being crowned Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Betsy, owned by Nina Thornton, won most original during the dog pageant. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Alexis Wilcox, 7, previous Little Miss Apple of Your Eye, accepts flowers from her father Brad Wilcox after her farewell walk. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kenneth McNulty stirs apple butter at the Belpre Lions Club’s 41st annual Apple Butter Stir Off. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
New this year, the Grand Central Mall Express was shuttling kids around Civitan Park as part of the festival. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Christy Welch and her dog Zara, who won most elegant and overall during the dog pageant. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Mia, owned by Mandy Johnson, stands on stage to show off her costume, which included a small cowboy sitting on her back, during the dog pageant. Mia won funniest costume. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kayla Robinson, 6, of Belpre introduces herself at the start of the pageant with Wendi Williams, the event emcee and Mrs. Bridge Day. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Tom Webster dips apples for apple sauce to become apple butter. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
A small crowd gathered at Civitan Park to buy homemade apple butter the Pioneer Presbyterian Church of Belpre was selling. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kayla Robinson, 6, 2019 Little Miss Apple of Your Eye, from left, Keaghan Pitman, 10, 2019 Jr. Miss Apple of Your Eye, and Emily Harnager, 15, 2019 Miss Teen Apple of Your Eye, stand together for photos after being crowned Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Betsy, owned by Nina Thornton, won most original during the dog pageant. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Alexis Wilcox, 7, previous Little Miss Apple of Your Eye, accepts flowers from her father Brad Wilcox after her farewell walk. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kenneth McNulty stirs apple butter at the Belpre Lions Club’s 41st annual Apple Butter Stir Off. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
New this year, the Grand Central Mall Express was shuttling kids around Civitan Park as part of the festival. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Christy Welch and her dog Zara, who won most elegant and overall during the dog pageant. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Mia, owned by Mandy Johnson, stands on stage to show off her costume, which included a small cowboy sitting on her back, during the dog pageant. Mia won funniest costume. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kayla Robinson, 6, of Belpre introduces herself at the start of the pageant with Wendi Williams, the event emcee and Mrs. Bridge Day. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Trending
BELPRE -- While the morning was rainy and cold, the afternoon brought some sun, warmer temperatures and a growing crowd to enjoy Belpre Lions Club's 41st annual Apple Butter Stir Off at Civitan Park in Belpre on Saturday.
The stir off, which continues today from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., raises money to help the club purchase eyeglasses and hearing aids for community members.
"Each day we start with 14 bushels of apples, cut them into chunks which are then boiled, processed and reboiled," said Tom Webster, of Pioneer Presbyterian Church of Belpre, who was in charge of making the apple butter.
Saturday was the Miss Apple of Your Eye Pageant. This year's royalty is:
* Little Miss Apple of Your Eye: Kayla Robinson, 6, who also received the title Miss Community Service.
* Jr. Miss Apple of Your Eye: Keaghan Pitman, 10.
* Miss Teen Apple of Your Eye: Emily Harnager, 15.
Alexis Wilcox, 7, previous Little Miss Apple of Your Eye, was named an Apple of Your Eye Ambassador, for all her dedication. Wilcox raised $708 in donations for pediatric cancer research in 2018 and has raised nearly $3,000 for different fundraisers the Belpre Lions Club supports.
"It's now their (the newly crowned royalty) chance to leave their mark on the community," said Wilcox.
Pageant Director Deborah Marshall announced that she is stepping down from the role after over 20 years.
"It has been a beautiful journey full of great memories and I feel blessed to have been able to teach each of my girls that there is more to pageants than just a crown," Marshall said.
At the end of the pageant, Marshall surprised two pageant moms, Melissa Wilcox and Mandy Johnson by naming them honorary Lions Club Queens for their willingness to help all the girls succeed and for all the extra effort they have put into everything they do.
At 1 p.m., the festival held a dog costume pageant, which was sponsored by Crazy Bone. The winners were:
* Funniest : Mia owned by Mandy Johnson
* Cutest: Penny owned by Zack Mullen
* Most sophisticated male : Tucker owned by Susan Leach
* Most elegant and overall: Zara owned by Christy Welch
* Most original: Betsy owned by Nina Thornton
* First runner up: Teaghan owned by Susan Leach
Out enjoying the festival was Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz.
"I have been coming to this festival since I was a boy," he said.
According to Lorentz, his Boy Scout troop used to cut and core all the apples then process them before the stir off.
"The community enjoys coming and I think it is a great tradition to pass on," Lorentz said.
The Festival opens at 11 a.m. today with concessions, crafters and vendors, live entertainment and activities.
"This year we are making more apple butter since we have a tendency to sell out," Webster said.
Today's schedule includes:
* 11:30 a.m.: Lisa and Jerry Queen
* 1 p.m.: 2 Buds and A Slap Box
* 2 p.m.: Apple Butter Stir Off Pretty Baby Pageant
* 4 p.m.: Elvis Tribute Artist Kenneth Daily II
* 6 p.m.: Closing
Madeline Scarborough can be contacted at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com