Face down, no hands, stuff in pie

Kids usually get scolded for eating like a pig.

At this table, they were rewarded.

Fifty-five contestants put their manners aside and dove face forward into dessert at Tuesday's pie-eating contest at the El Paso County Fair.

Dane Vandebrake, 13, emerged with a sticky blue goatee and a shiny blue ribbon.

"I gulped it," said the Peyton boy, crumbs raining from his chin. "It was delicious."

Contestants ate the fruits of the labors by the fair's top pastry chefs.

"These pies won awards at the baked goods judging," said creative arts coordinator Becky Wheeler.

The bakers were told their prized pastries would be part of this pie demolition derby.

Contestants were wrapped in plastic to protect clothes from the messy tangle with a slice of pie placed under their nose.

The rules were strict and simple.

"You can't eat with your hands; you have to eat with your face only," said second-place winner Danielle Horne, 8, of Falcon.

"My mom would never let me do that at home."

Spectators cheered while tongues rolled and plates tipped in the race to leave no crumbs behind.

"Keep going, Trey!" shouted Ron Morse of Colorado Springs as his 8- year-old grandson plunged into crust.

The boy was crumbs away from nabbing third place in his age group. All participants received a ribbon.

"They're getting a slice of Americana," Morse said. "You don't get that opportunity every day."

The pie-eating contest is among the classic touches at this year's fair, said spokeswoman Debbie Galle.

"We put checkerboards out, do the cake walk, do the fun things that people were used to seeing when they were kids," Galle said.

"They don't have to fill out anything ahead of time. They just show up and get to participate."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0253 or abrown@gazette.com

WHAT'S

PLANNED

The El Paso County Fair opens at 8 a.m. daily and continues through Sunday. Contests include:

Today

2 p.m.: Hog calling

Thursday

Noon: Watermelon seed spitting

Friday

5 p.m.: Back-seat driver

Saturday

6 a.m.: Chili cook-off Noon: Llama costume

Sunday

Noon: Goat costume

Copyright 2004
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