Courtesy of the Bryant Chamber of Commerce
Bryant’s 27th Fall Fest drew an estimated 8,000 to Bishop Park on Saturday. And 89 of those people won a prize or ribbon to take home. The Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce puts on the festival annually.
Winner of the annual Fall Fest Duct Tape Boat Race, adult division, was Chris Martin.
The Adult Division Duct Tape Boat Race winner took home a fishing kayak worth more than $600. The winner of the race of the boats made only with PVC pipe and duct tape was Chris Martin racing the boat built by Bryant City Attorney Chris Madison, defending his third year title. Lander Auto Sales of Saline County made the race possible by sponsoring.
Madison, a runner, had been enrolled in an ironman competition for the weekend before Fall Fest in Lake Tahoe, Calif. That competition was not held due to poor air quality from fires in the area. He was offered a chance to run in another ironman competition on the Fall Fest weekend in lieu of the Lake Tahoe run and took that opportunity.
“However, Chris knew the seniors from the Bryant Senior Adult Center were gunning for him and wanted to take the trophy from him,” said Rae Ann Fields, Bryant Area Chamber director. “So, he sent his friend Chris Martin to paddle in his boat in his place. The seniors acquitted themselves quite well but did not prevail over the Chris factor.”
The “Black Momba” build by the Bryant High School’s Hornet Engineering and Technology Club (HEAT) took first place in the youth division and earned $150 in prize money.
The most creative duct tape boat race entry was built by the Bryant Middle School HEAT team.
The “Buzz” was built by the Bryant Middle School HEAT team and it won a prize for most creative duct tape boat and $50.
Grand prize winner in the Treasures in the Sand contest sponsored by Heartland Bank was Jay Reader whose number was drawn over 10 others who had been gift card winners throughout the day. Every hour, two people were invited to dig in the sand for a gift card. Hourly drawing winners and their gift cards were
James Jennings- Hot Springs Village Golf pass for four
Jay Reader- Dinner’s Ready (and grand prize winner of iPad mini)
Debbie Spears- Copeland’s
Ginny Palmer- Edwards Food Giant
Becky Bisbee- Kum & Go
AC Paxton- Edwards Food Giant
Lyla Perez- US Pizza
Stan Adams- TaMolly’s
Adrian Kim Roberts- Copeland’s
Bertha Broadway- Big Red
Paula Krontz- TaMolly’s
Youth Duct Tape Race winner was built by the Bryant High School Hornet Engineering and Technology Club (HEAT).
The Baby Crawl, sponsored by First Electric Cooperative Corp., proved a challenge. More a challenge for the race officials and the parents than the contestants when the first two babies decided to delay crawling and the second two sat and never crawled despite ample time allowed. Finally young Jace Fleetwood of Mabelvale decided to live up to his name and was “fleet” when crawling dawned on him. He took first place. Second place went to Rylee Price of Bryant. Spencer Forga of Benton and Aiden Armstrong of Alexander tied for third place.
Parade float winners were Davis Elementary, first place in the school division for $50 and Springhill Elementary second place in that division for $25. In the Business Category, Empire Cheerleading took first and Adrian Henley for Mayor took second place.
Pumpkin Bling winners were Bryant Elementary, 1st place; Springhill Elementary 2nd place and Paron Elementary, 3rd place in the schools category. The corporate winners were Stagecoach Nursing and Rehabilitation, 1st; 2nd place Baxley, Penfield, Moudy Realtors; and 3rd to Rae Ann Fields for Bryant City Council. In the youth division, the winners were D. Barnwell, 1st; Austin Griffin, 2nd; and Dublin Adams, 3rd. The adult division winners were Dorothy Barnwell, Dana Griffin, and Michelle Findley. All first place winners received $50. Bryant Auto Sales sponsored the event.
The Hula Hoop Contest, also sponsored by First Electric Cooperative Corp., was divided into three age groups – 6 and under, 7 to 12 and 12 and up. The winners in the six and under group were Alanna Dunn, daughter of Crystal Dunn of Bryant, 1st.; Katelyn Farrell, daughter of Tiffany Dunn of Bryant, 2nd; and Austin Brachmann, son of Dawna Thomas of Bauxite, 3rd.
In the 7 to 12 age group, winners were Jamie James of Bryant, 1st place; Ella Howard of Bryant, 2nd place; and Bryce Morada.
Winners in the oldest group were Kaydra Fox of Hot Springs, 1st; Paxton Griffin of Little Rock, 2nd and Jodie Spradlin of Bryant, 3rd. All received ribbons.
Other prize winners include over 16 winners of doorprizes called from the stage and numerous winners of doorprizes given at exhibit booths.
