Pumpkin Daze squashes records
Candidates stand with their escorts after the crowning of the Kiwanis queen during Pumpkin Daze 2025. In total, the queen hopefuls raised over $35,000 through ticket sales for the fall festival. From left, Alyx Cowden, Anna Steuber, Ethan Law, Chloe Priebe, Leegan Thiltgen, Aubree Dover, Dalton Trantham and Gracie Trantham.
Preston Kavanaugh sits with his gargantuan gourd weighing nearly 700 pounds at the Republic Pumpkin Daze produce weigh-in on Oct. 4 in J.R. Martin Park. The event, which was well attended according to Ashley Combs, president of the Pumpkin Daze festival, featured over 300 food and craft booths.
Youngsters gawk at the gargantuan, prize winning gourds. (Photos by Ethan Gray)
More than $35,000 raised for Republic Kiwanis Club; Dover takes queen crown
Republic’s annual fall festival returned last week with festivities beginning on Friday, Oct. 3, and continuing into Saturday, Oct. 4. Thousands of people attended the long-running festival that featured a produce weigh-in, a pet parade, a kids tractor pull, and the crowning of the Kiwanis queen.
“This was also our best year yet,” said Pumpkin Daze president, Ashley Combs. “I think it helped that the weather was perfect!”
The event, which is held in conjunction with the Republic Kiwanis Club, congregated over 300 food and craft booths, according to Combs.
“Kiwanis had a record year for the number of people attending and money raised,” said Kiwanis president Jessica Schultze. “Both Friday and Saturday we were jam-packed.”
Near the end of the festival, Kiwanis crowned a queen from a pool of four candidates, with the winner determined by who could raise the most money for the club via ticket sales. In total, the candidates raised over $35,000 to be distributed amongst other community-driven causes this December.
“Our queen candidates and their families/volunteers were incredible,” said Schultze. “Their hard work and dedication to the weekend is what allowed us to raise the amount of money we did.”
Pumpkin
1st- Landon Hough- 1,241 lbs.
2nd- Steve Kueny- 994 lbs.
3rd- Kris Stewart- 813 lbs.
4th- Preston Kavanaugh- 692 lbs.
5th- Jared Cohen- 341 lbs.
Howard Dill Award- Nick Carpenter
Field Pumpkin sponsored by C&H Greenhouses- Steve James- 87 lbs.
Youth Pumpkin:
1st- Walter, Frances, and Rhett Cohen- 112 lbs.
2nd- Layne Duran- 1.02 lbs.
Watermelon
1st- Garrin Bratcher- 248 lbs.
2nd- Lloyd Bright- 213 lbs.
3rd- Barbara Bright- 200 lbs.
4th- Kinley Bratcher- 196 lbs.
5th- Paul Foster- 129 lbs.
Tomato
1st- John Marsh- 0.72 lbs.
2nd- Tina Marsh- 0.40 lbs.
Heavy Gourd
1st- Braxton Bell- 140 lbs.
2nd- Braxton Bell - 131 lbs.
3rd- Nathan Bell- 61 lbs.
Youth Heavy Gourd
1st- Raelynn Hamilton- 5.44
2nd- Ryker Hamilton- 3.60 lbs
Youth Long Gourd
1st- Braddock Steele- 64”
2nd- Braddock Steele- 62”
Open Competition:
Tallest Sunflower
1st-Russ Newby- 133”
2nd- Russ Newby- 127”
Youth
1st- Salomon and Charlotte Anderson
Largest Sunflower Head
1st- Russ Newby- 17”
2nd- Russ Newby- 16”
Category:
Lawrence County Record
312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com
