Kids that came out to the Family Fun Days in Central Plaza Saturday had plenty of options.
Some walked with their families among the vendors, buying toys and Sno-Kones, or they stopped by the clown to get their faces painted.
A few took in the view from atop a cherry picker on display or went through a fire safety demonstration and escaped a smoke-filled trailer.
But the most anticipated event of the day had to be the frog contest.
For the second year, Ilion Days served as the home of a sort-of frog Olympics where kids measured, weighed, raced and jumped the slimy competitors.
Many of the close to 30 kids picked from the finest of frog specimens, caught by event organizers Gary Sickler and Kimberly Burns. Geremiah the Frog, with sponsor Big Frog 104, also helped the kids to keep his green friends saturated with water.
While the weighing took place, an occasional screech could be heard and a mad scramble would ensue as kids would go chasing after an especially slippery or springy frog.
Several of the kids decided to bring along their own frogs, however, having trained them or recruited them from secret locations.
Collin Green, 14, of Ilion, couldn’t wait to defend his farthest jump title from last year. The champion frog had since died, but Green said he went to the same spot in his grandfather’s pond to find a replacement.
There is happens to be a strategy to finding the biggest or the best frogs, and Green said he learned that Sickler goes out in a boat to scoop up the biggest croakers.
Despite concentrating on his farthest jumping title this year, Green said he has a plan on how to beat Sickler for the biggest frog title next year.
“I’m going to have to put on my waders and go out into the middle of the pond,” Green said.
|
|
|
Kids that came out to the Family Fun Days in Central Plaza Saturday had plenty of options.
Some walked with their families among the vendors, buying toys and Sno-Kones, or they stopped by the clown to get their faces painted.
A few took in the view from atop a cherry picker on display or went through a fire safety demonstration and escaped a smoke-filled trailer.
But the most anticipated event of the day had to be the frog contest.
For the second year, Ilion Days served as the home of a sort-of frog Olympics where kids measured, weighed, raced and jumped the slimy competitors.
Many of the close to 30 kids picked from the finest of frog specimens, caught by event organizers Gary Sickler and Kimberly Burns. Geremiah the Frog, with sponsor Big Frog 104, also helped the kids to keep his green friends saturated with water.
While the weighing took place, an occasional screech could be heard and a mad scramble would ensue as kids would go chasing after an especially slippery or springy frog.
Several of the kids decided to bring along their own frogs, however, having trained them or recruited them from secret locations.
Collin Green, 14, of Ilion, couldn’t wait to defend his farthest jump title from last year. The champion frog had since died, but Green said he went to the same spot in his grandfather’s pond to find a replacement.
There is happens to be a strategy to finding the biggest or the best frogs, and Green said he learned that Sickler goes out in a boat to scoop up the biggest croakers.
Despite concentrating on his farthest jumping title this year, Green said he has a plan on how to beat Sickler for the biggest frog title next year.
“I’m going to have to put on my waders and go out into the middle of the pond,” Green said.
