 While being in
its 40th year is certainly a good enough reason to
celebrate, this year, the festival was able to celebrate something
else in addition.For the first time in the history of the
festival, the top three winners also represented three generations
of the same family.
Placing third in the Sunday afternoon competition was Oliver
Friedlein of Plainfield. The second-place prize went to Friedlein's
son Chris, who hails from Gibson City, and the elder Friedlein's
grandson Cory of Bloomington took first place.
Between the three, the Friedlein family took home a total of
$1,750 in cash prizes this year.
Cash prizes consisted of $1,000 for first place, donated by Graue
Chevrolet and Jim Xamis Ford Lincoln Mercury; $500 for second,
donated by Lincoln Christian University and Lincoln College; and
$250 for third, which was donated by Lincoln IGA.
There was also a fourth-place award of $100 donated by Maple
Ridge Care Centre. The winner of that prize was Roy Usary from
Missouri.
There were 16 competitors in all for the Sunday afternoon event,
coming from a variety of locations, including parts of Missouri and
Kentucky as well as Illinois.
[By NILA SMITH]
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