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Crowd estimated at 26,000 enjoys WCU's 26th Mountain Heritage Day
Ruth Summers, guild executive director, accepts the award from Richard Collings

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is the winner of the Mountain Heritage Award for 2000. Ruth Summers, guild executive director, accepts the award from Richard Collings, Western Carolina University vice chancellor for academic affairs, during Mountain Heritage Day festivities Sept. 30

First chilled by a foggy morning, and then baked by a hot afternoon sun, a crowd estimated at 26,000 gathered on the Western Carolina University campus Sept. 30 for the 26th annual Mountain Heritage Day.

Visitors to the mountain-style festival enjoyed the same non-stop mountain music, dance, crafts, food and folk arts that characterize the event, but they also found some changes this year, primarily in the form of new locations for some activities. Because of construction on the WCU campus, this year's festival crafts and food midway and one music stage were relocated to fields around Western's Outreach Center.

Among the day's events were presentations of two awards. Western Carolina University's Mountain Heritage Award for 2000 was presented to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a non-profit organization founded in 1930 to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, conservation and marketing.

Also on Saturday, the Mountain Heritage Day Committee honored Gene McAbee, director of university police and traffic services, and the university's entire police department, with the Eva Adcock Award. The award is given each year to a committee member in recognition of long-time and significant service to the festival.

Winners of Mountain Heritage Day competitions:

Antique Car, Truck and Tractor Show

  • Grand Champion: Ken and Jeanette Craig of Otto, 1955 Chevrolet Camaro truck.

    • Baked Goods Contest

    First-place winners, adults:

  • pies, Shannon Kondrad of Cullowhee
  • heritage foods, Janet Pogozelski of Franklin
  • yeast breads, Donna Hinrichs of Columbia, S.C.
  • quick breads, Fawn Burgess
  • cakes, Traci Barnes of Sylva.

    • Grand champion, adults:

  • Shannon Kondrad for "Momma Leene's Pie."

    • First-place winners, youth:

  • quick breads, Jessica Barnes of Sylva
  • cookies, Caitlin DeRico of Sylva
  • cakes, Emily Melrose of Cullowhee.

    • Grand champion, youth:

  • Caitlin DeRico, cookies.

    • Cat Show

  • Longest tail: Camelot, owned by Caitlin DeRico of Sylva.
  • Most unique cat: Willie, owned by Katie Hayes of Webster.
  • Longest hair: Smokey, owned by Lisa Millspaugh of Webster.
  • Prettiest eyes: Zorro, owned by Fawn Chastain-Burgess of Webster.

    • Dog Show

  • Largest dog: Duke, owned by John Kaufman.
  • Smallest dog: Mickey, owned by Zach Vosecky.
  • Most unique dog: Heidi Joe, owned by Shannon Kondrad.
  • Owner look-a-like: Rebel, owned by Brent Nicholson.
  • Best trick: Ally, owned by Mary Isenberg.
  • Most obedient: Rebel, owned by Brent Nicholson.
  • Saddest looking: Blazer, owned by Quincy Clayton.
  • Best-of-breed: Tristin, owned by Joan O'Hara.
  • Happiest dog: Tanner, owned by Kathy Dudek.
  • Judge's choice: Burgundy, owned by Kimberly Ensley, and Sunshine, owned by Wanda Garrison.
  • Best-of-show: Bubba, owned by Sharon Weinzierl.

    • 5-K and Fun Run

    Fun Run (one mile):

  • Katie Spiro.
  • Britany Acosta.

    • 5-K Run:

  • Overall winner, Rand Perkins of Bryson City (18:20)
  • second, Jason Sheets of Mocksville
  • third, Paul Brandt of Cullowhee.

    • Age-group winners:

  • 13-19, Christopher Bochicchio and Crystal Moore
  • 20-29, Jason Sheets and Reagan Smith
  • 30-39, Paul Brandt and Sandy Davis
  • 40-49, Rand Perkins and Barbara Schiffle'
  • 50 and up, John McCarley.

    • Fashion Show

    Youth grand champions:

  • Micah Metz, 4-year-old son of Rusty and Charlotte Metz of Cullowhee
  • Kaitlyn Karcher, 2-year-old daughter of Guy and Susan Karcher of Webster.

    • Adult grand champions:

  • Bill and Judy Sipes of Waynesville.

    • Beard and Moustache Contest

  • Beards: first, Curtis Cooper.
  • Moustaches: first, Tom Forbis.

    • Horseshoe Contest

  • Men's singles: grand champion, Bob Moulin of Sylva.
  • Men's doubles: grand champion, Mike Leis of Sylva and Joey Hoelli of Webster.

    • Wood Cutting Contest

    Chain Saws

    Class E (0 to 2.7 cubic inches) Homeowner

  • Bobby Brooks of Cullowhee, Husky
  • Russell Messer of Tuckasegee, Stihl
  • Bernie Wagner of Franklin, Jonsered.

    • Class D (2.8 to 3.4 cubic inches), Homeowner

  • Darin Brooks of Whittier, Stihl
  • Doyle Shuler of Cullowhee, Stihl
  • Charles Thompson of Clyde, Husky.

    • Class C (3.5 to 3.9 cubic inches), Box

  • Niles Roberts of Canton, Stihl
  • Darin Brooks, Husky
  • Mike Pressley of Sylva, Husky.

    • Class B (4.0 to 4.9 cubic inches), Box

  • Darin Brooks, Stihl
  • Doyle Shuler, Stihl
  • Russell Messer, Husky.

    • Class B (4.0 to 4.9 cubic inches), Modified

  • Niles Roberts, Husky
  • Niles Roberts, Husky
  • Niles Roberts, Husky.

    • Class A (5.0 to 5.9 cubic inches), Box

  • Jeremy Moore of Waynesville, Stihl
  • Russell Messer, Stihl
  • Charles Thompson, Husky.

    • Class A (5.0 to 5.9 cubic inches), Modified

  • Jeremy Moore, Stihl
  • Jeremy Moore, Stihl
  • Darin Brooks, Stihl

    • Class AA (6.0 cubic inches and up), Box

  • Mike Pressley, Husky.

    • Class Hot Saw, Unlimited

  • Jeremy Moore, Jonsered
  • Darin Brooks, Husky.

    • Crosscut Saw Team Competition

  • Aaron Pirkle and Ryan Bailey, both of Waynesville
  • Aaron Pirkle and Ryan Bailey
  • Jeremy Moore and Doyle Shuler.
    • 17-month-old Grace Porter

    Photos from Mountain Heritage Day

    All photos courtesy of Mark Haskett

    Bundled up against the morning chill, 17-month-old Grace Porter (top left) gets a ride on her father's shoulders at Saturday's Mountain Heritage Day. She is the daughter of Jeff and Michele Porter of Cullowhee.


    Fiddler Gar Mosteller (middle) of Whittier was among the featured performers on the event's traditional music stage ...






    while 6-year-old Grace Norton (bottom left), daughter of Mimi Fenton of Whittier and Gene Norton of Cullowhee, gets ready to partake of a caramel apple.

    17-month-old Grace Porter
    17-month-old Grace Porter

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