‘Redneck’ celebration strong in Ramona on Fourth of July

Janine Mattoon of Rocking Horse Ranch in Dwight, claps to the music, ?Thank God I?m A Country Boy? during the Redneck in Ramona parade Thursday. Mattoon, along with several of her students, took first place in the parade?s general category. Patty Decker / Free PressWhere else could someone see horses wearing blue jeans and goats chewing tobacco?

Those were some of the colorful characters and sights at Ramona?s annual July 4th celebration.

Though it differs from traditional ?Fourth? festivities such as cookouts, fireworks and wishing Uncle Sam a happy birthday, Jessica Gilbert, event coordinator, said Redneck in Ramona is always a stellar success.

?This little town of five streets and less than 150 people,? pulls off an impressive event and I?m proud to be part of it,? she said.

The day began with a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice.

?(The breakfast) had the highest donations and attendance ever,? Gilbert said. ?We were chuckling because my sister (Pat Wick) and I donated the eggs (from Pat?s chickens) for the breakfast.?

Busy hens

With such a huge crowd, more eggs were needed from the henhouse, prompting Gilbert to literally get the eggs from under the hens.

?It was a record attendance in that regard,? she said. ?The parade was also the best yet. The floats were all top flight and the contenders were very competitive in scores.

?People work very hard on these floats,? she said.

One parade contestant told Gilbert it?s not about the prize money, but because it?s fun and because they believe Ramona has the best parade in the area.

Event roots

Many of the people who work on this event every year are current or former city council members, according to Gilbert.

?Byron Noeth, Ramona?s current mayor, and his wife, created the Redneck Run seven years ago, and that?s how the whole event became known as ?Redneck in Ramona,?? she said.

Gilbert said because everything is free it?s difficult to gauge how many people turned out for the event.

Winner of the youth council?s 50/50 drawing was Sara Beth Hendrix of Marion. She won $76.

The following are other winners in the event contests, parade, medallion hunt and other events.

Contests

Lawnmower obstacle course: 1. Jim Combes, :59, $50; 2. Alex Hajek, 1:00, $20; 3. Danny Williams, 1:01, $10. All prizes made possible by Mike?s Mower Service in Hope. Event creators and coordinators were Ramona City Councilor Art Stroda and his nephew, Brian Haden of Hope.

Nail driving: 1. Jim Combes, Lebo, gift card. 2. Melvin H, Salina, gift card. 3. Karen Dalke, Hillsboro, gift card. Prizes made possible by Carlson?s Grocery in Marion, Gridiron Cafe in Hope, Barnes Heartland Foods in Herington and End Zone in Hope. Jeannie Goza of Ramona, event coordinator all three contests.

Spam carving: 1. Misty Winger, Dodge City, $15, Carlson?s Grocery, Marion. 2. Karen Dalke, Hillsboro, gift certificate, Gridiron Cafe, Hope. 3. Justin Makovec, Ramona, gift certificate, End Zone, Hope.

Pie eating: 1. Annie Mercer, Ramona, 12-pack soda, Barnes Heartland Foods, Herington. 2. Morgan Magnett, Herington, same. 3. Brent Mercer, Ramona, same.

Medallion hunt winner: Kristy Laing & Molly Mercer, both of Ramona, $100 from The Wik. Prize made possible by The Wik in Ramona. Event coordinators: Rachel Mealor and Jessica Gilbert.

Parade results

Kathy Matkins was the parade coordinator, with Lisa Janschu as the announcer and Jessica Gilbert as the organizer. The parade theme was ?Redneck Humor,? with more than $500 awarded for floats, antiques, children, teens, best theme depiction and judges choice.

Overall Redneck Theme: Redneck Health Club, participants: Tanya Eklund, Julie Noeth, Rachel and Ryan Eklund, all of Ramona, and Stephanie Symns of Atchison, $100, sponsor: Clark Lumber, Herington.

Judges? choice: Redneck Dynasty Resort, participants: the Makovec family of Ramona, $100, sponsor: First Choice Meats of Herington.

Floats: 1. Redneck Mobile Banking, participants: First National Bank of Hope employees, $100. 2. Shield?s Service & Supply, participants: Gavin Shields & Co., Lincolnville, $50 plus $25 gift certificate to Gridiron Cafe, Hope. 3. Redneck ?Hawian? Vacation, participants: Ryff family of Ramona, $25.

Antique Vehicles: (Tie for first) 1923 Ford Model-T hot rod, participant: Billy Alcorn, $50, and Vintage on Vintage, participants: Billy Jack Riddle and Miriam Riddle of Dallas, Texas, $50.

General Category: 1. Rocking Horse Ranch, participants: Alan and Janine Mattoon, Aaron and Lisa Tabby and Kiley and Cody Langley, all of Dwight, $50 gift certificate. 2. Hunt?in 4 a Duck Dynasty Guy, participant: Jessica Gilbert, Ramona, $25. 3. Hope Heritage Festival of Hope, $10 gift certificate.

Teen Category: 1. Redneck Taxi, participant: Terren Thompson of Ramona, $30. 2. Live Your Dreams, participants: Jasmyne Beeman and friends of Ramona, $20. 3. Redneck Alarm System, participants: Kaitlin Bruner, Janel Dones and Reggie the dog, all of Ramona, $15.

Kids Category: 1. Redneck ?Pontune,? participants: Mathew Paige, Andy, and the Madron siblings, all of Ramona, $15. 2. (Tie) Redneck Taxi, participants: Alexis Craney and Julia Brunner of Pilsen, $10, and C&L Speedway, participants: Clara Noeth and Lexi Todd, both of Ramona, $10. 3. (Tie) Buckland Boer Goats, participants: Trouble, the goat, Tigger, the Dachsund, Little Dog the dog and Jorja and Jackie Peterson, all of Lost Springs, $5, and Gocart Redneck Race?n, participant: Kiana Haden of Hope, $5.

Redneck Run (2-mile and 10K)

Julie and Byron Noeth of Ramona are the event creators. The overall winner in the 2-mile event was Brock Hazelton of Elmdale with a time of 14.10. Tracy Schmitz of Axtell was the overall winner in the 10K.

Other run awards went to Russell Moore of Wamego in the ?Most Redneck? category. Jeff Miller of Onaga and Jason Becker of Herington both received ?Redneck Wind Chimes,? for completing the 2-mile walk a month after having knee replacements.

Two mile?12 & under girls: 1. Kallie Albrecht, Salina, 17:43. 2. Courtney Cook, Herington, 18:50. 3. Madi Becker, Herington, 19:47. 12 & under boys: 1. Simon Schmitz, Axtell, 18:25. 2. Matthew Cook, Herington, 18:48. 3. Tyus Becker, Herington, 19:45. 13-17 girls: 1. Tricia Schmitz, Axtell, 15:05. 2. Kaylee Slater, Herington, 17:21. 3. Rachael Eklund, Ramona, 24:18. 13-17 boys: 1. Brock Hazelton, Elmdale, 14:10. 2. Taylor Cook, Herington, 15:13. 3. Ryan Eklund, Herington, 32:57. 18-24 women: 1. Anna Weber, Ramona, 33:48. 25-34 women: 1. Stephanie Symns, Atchison, 20:47 2. Bethany Carlson, Lincolnville, 23:09. 3. Melissa Brunner, Herington, 33:48. 25-34 men: 1. Cruz Lopez, 28:04. 35-44 women: 1. Natasha Becker, Herington, 14:20. 2. Jolene Albrecht, Salina, 21:49. 3. Julee Slater, Herington, 23:14. 35-44 men: 1. Neil Albrecht, Salina, 22:00. 2. Jason Becker, Herington, 45:22. 45-55 women: 1. Sue Smith, Goddard, 18:28. 2. Mary Pfeffer, Herington, 30:36. 3. Kodi Kelsey, Marion, 33:48. 45-55 men: 1. Kevin Leffler, Marion, 14:32. 2. Randy Kelsey, Marion, 33:48. 3. Jeff Miller, Onaga, 39:43. 56+ women: 1. Amy Moore, Council Grove, 25:02. 2. Delores Siggs, Goddard, 41:39. 56+ men: 1. D Moore, Council Grove, 22:20. 2. (tie) Junior Hanshu, Ramona, 41:49, and Billy Riddle, Dallas, Texas, 41:39.

10-K?13-17 boys: 1. Tracy Schmitz, Axtell, 42:51. 2. Oliver Schmitz, Axtell, 48:03. 18-24 women: 1. Ashten Slater, Herington, 56:16. 2. Katheryn Pfeffer, Herington, 1:44:00. 18-24 men: 1. Austin Schmitz, Axtell, 43:18. 25-34 women: 1. Kylee Polok, Hope, 49:49. 2. Sarah Fenske, Wamego, 51:02. 25-34 men: 1. Jason Miller, Wellsville, 49:47. 2. Randy Miller, Onaga, 53:18. 35-44 men: 1. Mike Westbrook, Loveland, Colo., 43:23. 2. Troy Slater, Herington, 47:54. 3. Russell Moore, Wamego, 53:57. 45-55 women: 1. Jo Dee Westbrook, Wamego, 48:08. 56+ men: 1. Mike Moran, Marion, 52:33.

Tractor pull

The tractor pull is sponsored by Deines Farms in Ramona with prizes sponsored by Rick and Barb Hanschu of Ramona. Van De Creek Tractor Pull of Abilene coordinated the event.

Tractor pull?Age 4: 1. Benjamin Davis. 2. Korbyn Gentz. 3. Alex Fenske. Age 5: 1. Grant Eskeldson. 2. London Knight. 3. Elijah Klenda. Age 6: 1. Taygan Gentz. 2. Isabell Rziha. 3. Hanne McDermott. Age 7: 1. Kobe Huggins. 2. Tyus Becker. 3. Ashlyn Night. Age 8: 1. Ivan Jirak. 2. Madison Huggins. 3. Josie Parks. Age 9: 1. Callie Plenert. 2. Journey Holcom. 3. Tanner Stuchlik. Age 10: 1. Daries Huggins. 2. Nicole Middleton. Age 11: 1. Kayland Alexander. 2. Jacob Hird. 3. Allie Hird. Age 12: 1. Courtney Cook. 2. Sheryl Beeman.

Basketball

Winners of the James Weber Memorial Basketball competition included:

Men?s division: 1. Justin Deines of Ramona; Ty Simons of Lincolnville and Brian Burhoop of Burdick.

Youth division: 1. Cole Srajer of Tampa; Dylan Deines of Ramona and CJ Thompson of Ramona.

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