Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m.—WARDSBORO—Is your home-grown Gilfeather turnip ready for the big contest at the upcoming Gilfeather Turnip Festival in Wardsboro on Saturday, Oct. 22? There’s still time to nurture it with some TLC until festival day. The 14th Annual Gilfeather Turnip Festival will once again feature the popular turnip contest for all home growers. Now that the Gilfeather turnip is the newly designated Vermont state vegetable, the competition in this year’s contest is sure to be more intense than ever. The festival takes place at town hall and under several big and small tents, all on Main Street in Wardsboro. Parking and admission are free. This year’s entries will be judged in the following categories and first place winners will be awarded for each:
“Grand Champion” Gilfeather—total weight with greens; Largest Gilfeather with greens grown in a Wardsboro garden; Largest Gilfeather with greens grown outside of Wardsboro; Most original name for your Gilfeather—(other than John Gilfeather); Best Strange and Funny Gilfeather—decorate, dress it up or leave it plain.
Register Gilfeathers at Town Hall between 10 a.m.-12 p.m. the day of the festival. The announcement of the winners and ribbon awards ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Growers may enter a different turnip in more than one category. Honorable Mention ribbons go to all children 12 and under who enter a Gilfeather turnip from their gardens.
Photo courtesy of Friends of the Wardsboro Library
Braiden Pearson proudly displays his winning entry in last year’s contest and his award for the largest Gilfeather turnip grown in Wardsboro. His amazing, prize Gilfeather weighed 27.2 pounds.
