Mentone Egg Festival Comes To A Close
Cousins Lucas Surface and Tinley Cody were crowned the 2023 Mr. Rooster and Miss Chick.
Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
MENTONE — After three days of activities, the Mentone Egg Festival has come to a close.
The final day of activities concluded today, Saturday, June 3, with the annual parade, crowning of Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster and the finale of the evening with the crowning of the 2023 Miss Mentone Egg Festival.
Lucas Surface and Tinley Cody followed in the footsteps of their parents, Ken Surface and Carissa Cody, when they were named the 2023 Mr. Rooster and Miss Check winners. Ken Surface and Carissa Cody, held those titles in the mid to late 1990s. Now their children, who are cousins, have earned that same title.
The two rode on the Surface family float, which followed this year’s theme “Celebrating Family and Food.” The float won the Kid Division parade entry trophy. The family’s entry focused on Mentone’s Family Farms Feed America, with Lucas Surface riding a tractor in a corn field and his cousin, Tinley, dressed as a chick, hatching from an egg.
Other parade winners included:
- Color guard — American Legion Post 49
- Miscellaneous — 2022 Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster
- Theme Float — JD Celebrating outdoors and S’Mores with Family
- Marching — Tippecanoe Valley High School and Junior High School Cheerleaders
- Antique vehicle — Bell Memorial Public Library
- Farm Equipment — Mellott & Son’s Inc., Farmall tractors
This year’s parade included approximately 34 units, including police, fire and EMS units from Mentone and Silver Lake police departments, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Seward Township, Mentone, Four-Way Ambulance Service, Etna Township, Burket Township, Henry Township, Atwood, and TIppecanoe.
There were plenty of tractors and a few unique entries of vehicles in the parade.
The parade ended with the Tippecanoe Valley Guard.
The day’s events also included an egg toss, barbecue contest, 3-on-3 basketball contests, a cake walk and cute baby contest.
Earlier in the week there was a car show, concert, flea markets, crafts and food vendors. Inflatables and games were also held for the kids.
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- Dalton Albert serves up extra sausage.
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- Noah Newsome keeps an eye on who might be watching him drink a glass of milk.
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- The community came out to support the Tippecanoe Valley Football Team at the pancake and sausage breakfast. Coach Steve Moriarty, shown in the photo, expressed appreciation for all the support for the program.
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- Haizley Rockhill finds eating sausage with her fingers is better than using a fork.
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- Noah Coughenour replenishes the syrup on tables during the pancake and sausage breakfast.
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- This youngster prepares to try a bite of his sausage.
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- Uncle Spokes the Clown appeared in the parade.
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- One of the tractor entries.
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- Kids scramble to get candy, thrown out during the parade.
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- Phyllis Bowser, grand marshal, is honored with a plaque from Tim Croy, town council member and chamber member.
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- A propane fueled Farmall.
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- 2022 Mentone Egg Festival Queen Carlee Snyder.
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- This walking s’more won the theme float award.
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- Tippecanoe Valley Viking Guard Band concluded the parade entries.
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- Brooklyne White is one of the queen contestants.
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- Queen contestant Jaida Conley’s entry in the parade.
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- A trombone player in the Tippy Valley Viking Guard band.
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- Jasmine Fuller is one of the queen contestants.
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- Armed with bags, kids ae ready for the parade to begin.
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- A.J. Kmme and Alaska Carter, 2022 Mr. Rooster and Miss Chick, wait to give up their titles.
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- William “Bud” Long stands at attention during the National Anthem. He was among Warsaw American Legion Post 49 participants in the parade.
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- Lucas Surface was a Mr. Rooster contestant.
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- MowKarts from Marshall County appeared in the parade.
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- The 2022 Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster, Alaska Carter and A.J. Kimme receive a trophy as miscellaneous winners.
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- Tinley Cody dresses as a baby chick hatching from an egg in her contest entry. The Surface family entry won the kids division trophy.
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- The Lions Indy Car drivers.
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- This antique truck used by the Bell Museum in the parade to promote its summer reading program, won the antique vehicle award.
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- The drummers of the Tippecanoe Valley band kept the beat.
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- Felicity Severns was one of the Miss Chick contestants.
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- Engine No. 1 for the Mentone Fire Department, a 192 Dodge.
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- Tippy Valley Senior and Junior High Cheerleaders.
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- Spectators received a little refreshing mist from this parade participant.
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- Creation Celebration was among local business entries.
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- A 1937 Oliver
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- The downtown area wa filled with people after the parade.
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- Echoes of the Past participated
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- Mellot & Sons Inc., Farmall tractors won the farm equipment award.
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- An 1800s restored wagon.
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- One of the Farmall entries
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- A vehicle made from many parts.
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- One unique entry.
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- A firefighter in full gear greets the kids.
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- Scott Sponseller and Aaro Sponseller begin preparing the pork ribs for the barbecue contest.
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- Dave Koch, Rochester, preps his pork ribs for the cook-off.
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- A little three-on-three basketball.
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- The bouncy houses were a hit with the kids.
