The Huron Expositor, 1994-08-17, Page 33Bean Festival, August 17, 1994 - Page 17A
29th Bean Festival Souvenir Edition
Festival features .frog jump
Zurich area residents will be
scouring the swamps for
amphibious athletes over the
next few weeks.
• The annual Doctor Wallace
Frog Jumping Contest will
once again be part of the
Zurich Bean Festival activities
on August 27. '
Local physician Dr. C
Wallace said the contest.
became part of bean fest about
rl,Ul. 1974, at the suggestion of his
daughter, who had read about
such events elsewhere. The
event has gone over well
from inception, he said.
"It's always been a success —
real 1 fun for the kids."
Wa lace still helps out and
attends the frog jumping each
year, but said "most of the
hard work," such as frog
measuring (contestants are
divided into under 3 -inches
and over 3 -inches categories)
is handled by Richard and
Brenda Schilbe these days.
Considering the rather
independant nature of the
contestants, Dr. Wallace said
the competiion has always
gone over smoothly.
"Occasionlly the frogs get
running around when they
escape, if you will, and get
people excited."
The local Zurich Sunoco
Station will again be turned
into an arena for the competi-
tion of leaping amphibians for
the 3 p.m. event.
Kids and young at heart
adults are all welcome to join
in the fun.
The first frog to cross the
finish line is the winner. The
only hard and fast rule is that
coaches, owners and
enthusiast spectators must not
touch the frogs during the
race. Verbal coaxing is the
Measuring the distances jumped by frogs is exacting work. The frog
jumping contest is always popular with the youngsters.
only assistance allowed.
Cash prizes will be offered,
however Dr. Wallace doubts
you'll ever see frog jumping
make it to the Pro -Line Sports
Lottery counter.
"They haven't • got into any
heavy betting on it yet, as far •
as I can tell. But who knows,
that will be the next thing."