NEWBERRY — The sound of a machete chopping watermelons mixed with the melodies of popular country songs. Little girls strutted across the field new pink and green dresses, and festival-goers wore a glisten of of sweat and juice on their faces.
Watermelon was everywhere.
The 68th Newberry Watermelon Festival was held Saturday in a field about 10 miles north of the Oaks Mall on State Road 26.
Volunteers sliced and distributed free watermelon wedges into participants’ juice-covered hands.
“I think it’s a good combo — the weather and the watermelon,” said 20-year-old chemical engineering senior Jee Hye Kang, who attended the festival with a group from the UF Chinese American Student Association.
The festival is one of the oldest running small-town festivals in America, said Kathi Thomas, the president of the festival. Her family has been involved with the event since it began, she said.
Newberry’s economy relies on its agricultural production, Thomas said. The festival’s purpose is to celebrate the agricultural roots of the community as well as its current farmers.
“It’s a celebration saying ‘Hey, we’re still here,’” she said. “Agriculture still sustains this community.”
Jordan Marlowe, a Newberry city commissioner, also emphasized the importance of agricultural production to the Newberry community. He said watermelon has always been a staple crop for the city.
“If everyone is doing well in watermelon season, then everybody is generally happy,” he said. “If it’s a poor crop, we all share in the sorrow together.”
A farm in Arcadia, Fla., donated the watermelons, said Kateara Stoner, a festival volunteer.
Newberry’s watermelon crops weren’t ready yet.
Eating watermelon wasn’t the only activity at the festival. Participants also entered hog-calling, seed-spitting and watermelon-rolling contests.
A pageant contributed to the festivities as well.
Seven women competed for the title of Newberry Watermelon Queen to represent the local farming population as well as the city of Newberry throughout the coming year.
Brandi Harrison, who won the festival title in 2009 and is this year’s state watermelon queen, said the festival queen fills an important role.
“I don’t consider the Newberry pageant a pageant,” she said. “I consider it as a spokesperson for my hometown.”
On Friday and Saturday, the contestants were evaluated for their performance in seven categories: interview, speech, evening wear, casual wear, overall impression, beauty and onstage questions.
On Saturday afternoon, Kyndal VanAernam, an 18-year-old Dixie County High School senior, was called on stage and crowned the 2013 Newberry Watermelon Queen.
“It’s exciting that they think highly enough of me to give me that position,” she said. “I’m...hoping I make everyone happy and represent the community well in the watermelon industry.”
Marlowe said the Newberry Watermelon Queens traditionally represent the city well.
“She puts a good face of Newberry on for us,” he said. “We embrace the watermelon culture.”
