Fireman’s Challenge, cookoff, and cornhole tourney get Sanpete County Fair rolling
Robert Stevens
Managing Editor
8-25-2016
MANTI—The Sanpete County Fair started building steam last weekend with events such as the Fireman’s Challenge, Dutch Oven Cookoff, cornhole tournament and Junior Rodeo drawing crowds and competitors.
The popular “Fireman’s Challenge” event, held last Saturday, Aug. 20, featured a hotly contested battle between Wales and Manti fire departments in which both teams won three events. But the Manti City Fire Department won the final challenge.
“The event went really well this year, and attendance was great,” said Wade Anderson, Sterling fire fighter, who chaired the challenge.
The Dutch Oven Cook-off took place on Aug. 20 as well. Matt Reber of Axtell took first-place in the “main dish” competition, Roy Carlisle of Manti took second place and Jaydee Miller took third place.
In the “side dish” category, Tom Anderson of Gunnison took first place, Levi Reber of Axtell took second place, and Jason Pipes of Mt. Pleasant took third place.
Mike Bennett of Mayfield (also the chairman of the whole fair) took first place in the dessert competition, with Laini Reber of Axtell coming in second.
The cornhole tournament took place on Aug. 20, too, with excellent attendance according to Davis Hayes, of Ephraim, who organized the tournament.
Buck Buford and Kerry Carver, both of Ephriam, were the tournament winners.
“It was wonderful,” Hayes said. “We had tons of people show up, with 14 different teams playing, and I don’t know how many spectators turned out. We have had a lot of tournaments over the years and this was by far the best one, with participants ranging in age from 5 years old to 70.”
The Junior Rodeo was held on Friday, and went off without a hitch, according to organizer Zane Osborne of Manti.
“It turned out really great,” he said. “I want to thank everyone who helped make it happen, from the ladies who took registrations to the guys who worked the chutes. Overall things went fantastic.”
