Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 27, 2007, Pages 1, 10 &11

A large group of people participated in the Autumn in the Ayr celebration which included all things autumn from football to barbecuing and from parades to cars and tractors on display.

A wide variety of groups helped support and run the many events that were part of the three days of activity held around the community. The weekend included specials at Mount Ayr stores earlier in the weekend, the beginning of the barbecue contest and the Mount Ayr Community high school football game with North Polk Friday night.

There was perfect weather for the weekend, where activity centered on the square on Saturday and at the Ringgold county fairgrounds Sunday.

Activity began on the square early Saturday morning and events where there was competition or judging from all the activity of the weekend are reported in this story.

The 25th annual Milt Henderson Running Classic opened the morning with two mile and 5K running events and a two-mile walk part of the activity. Taking part in the event in a t-shirt from the original event 25 years ago was John Overholtzer of Tingley, who has participated in all 25 events.

Winning the 5K men's run was Chris King of Redding, a member of the cross country team for Northwest Missouri State University. King won the event in a closing of 17:48. Taking the title in the women's 5K event was Lindsey Triggs of Mount Ayr, a Mount Ayr Community high school senior on the cross country team, who ran in 24:17.

In the 14 and underdivision of the men's 5K, Christian Overholzer was first in 21:36. Kirk Ford won the 15-19 year old division with a time of 22:05.

In the women's 5I run, Connie Smith took first palce in the women 40-49 division with a time of 25:56.

Winning the two mile men's run was Jerey Larsen of Benton, who finished in 12:10. Jen Angus of Mount Ayr topped the women with a clocking of 19:17.

Other men's placings in the two mile run included:

14 years and under - 1. Taylor Richie, 14:40; 2. Shane Swank, 17:10.

15-19 years old - 1. Tyler Hinz, 12:31; 2. Tom Hosfield, 12:44; 3. Wes Klejc, 12:53.

40-49 years old - 1. John Overholser, 15:34.

Other women's placings in the two-mile run included:

14 years and under - 1. Katie Kinney, 19:20.

40-49 years old - Kris Kinney, 19:35.

In the women's two-mile walk, Leah Klejch of Mount Ayr took first place with a time of 27:05.

In the 40-49 year old division, Jenifer Johnson was first in 27:06, Jolene Gourley was second in 27:07, and Linda Klejch was third in 27:08.

A car, truck and motorcycle show was held on the south side of the square, sponsored by Peggy Sue's, and named best of show in the stock category was the 1956 Crown Victoria of Lynn Dennis of Ankeny. The best of show in the modified category went to the 1933 Ford three-window coupe of Ron Newton of Ankeny.

Other winnders in the car show included:

1952 and older stock: 1. 1950 Jeepster of Ron Cross of Urbandale; 2. 1931 Ford Model A of Kurt Shaha of Ellston.

1952 and older modified: 1. 1933 Ford three-window coup of Ron Newton of Ankeny; 2. 1947 coupe of Ray Goodridge of Bethany, MO.

1953 to 1963 stock: 1. 1956 Crown Victoria of Lynn Dennis of Ankeny; 2. 1960 Rambler Classic of Butch Chapin of Redding.

1953-1962 modified: 1. 1953 Chevrolet two-door sedan of Dick and Mary Callen of Princeton, MO.

1963-1969 stock: 1. 1969 GS convertible of Clem Sevde of Norwalk; 2, 1963 Nova SS of Debbie Shields of Diagonal.

1963-1969 modified: tie for 1. 1968 Ford Mustange of Lana Barker Gibson of Saint Joseph, MO; and 1968 Plymouth Road Runner of David Surds of Norwalk; 2. 1969 Fairline of Steve and Joni Mullock of Ravenwood, MO.

1970-1979 stock: tie for 1. 1971 Pontiac GTO of Kurt Shaha of Ellston and 1970 Buicke GSX of Lynn Dennis of Ankeny; 2. 1972 Ford Mustang of John Newton of Mount Ayr.

1970-1978 modified: 1. 1972 Monte Carlo SS of Rob Graham of Diagonal.

1991 and newer stock: 1. 1997 Firebird of Kurt Shaha of Ellston.

In the pickup competition, winners included:

1970 and older stock 2WD: 1. 1934 1/2 Ton KC of Dan Hooper of Osceola; 2. 1949 Dodge B-100 of Roger Stalheim of Winterset.

1970 and older modified 2WE: 1. 1970 pickup of Charley Wagner of Maryville, MO.

[Page 10] Stock 4WD pickups: 1. 1985 Chevrolet Silverado of Robert Gaskill of Maryville, MO; 2. 1954 C. J. Willys of Scott Cross from Lee's Summett, MO.

Modified 4WD pickups: 1. 1978 Blazer of Colton Weehler of Mount Ayr.

Motocycle winners included:

Stock: 1. Harley Davidson Fatboy of Gerald Hutchinson of Albany, MO.

Modified: 1. 1975 FL Custom of Glen Baldwin of McFall, MO.

Winners were also named in the ugly car and pickup show. Car winner was Tony Richards.

Pickup winners were 1. Tony Richards; 2. Lucas Angus; 3. Rob Graham.

The Sons of the American Legion held their annual tractor pull in the afternoon. Winners in the different catagories were:

4 to 5 year old boys: 1. Trey Ehlen.P>4 to 5 year old girls: 1. Alexis Greenland.

6 to 7 year old boys: 1. John Shields.

6 to 7 year old girls: 1. Abbey Schafer.

8 to 9 year old bosy: 1. Mason Smith.

8 to 9 year old girls: 1. Kelsey Shields.

10 to 12 year old boys: 1. Billy Brown.

10 to 12 year old girls: 1. Bailey Ahrends.

Between 50 and 60 motorcyclists took part in the poker run. Winner of the poker run was Tim Whitworth of Des Moines. Rich Brundage of Mount Ayr placed second and Dave Vos of Des Moines placed third. Brundage donated his proceeds back to the Barber memorial.

The motorcyclists participating in the Poker Run also participaged in the parade.

Results from the ATV drag races included:

Youth class: 1. Chad Sharlin, Diagonal; 2. Devin Winemiller, Diagonal; 3. Jena James, Mount Ayr.

Utility class: 1. Jordan Stewart, Maloy; 2. Syd McCord, Grant City MO; 3. Danny Fletcher, Diagonal.

Powder puff: 1. Sam Walker, Grant City MO; 2. Syd McCord, Grant City MO; 3. Kisha Martin, Mount Ayr.

2-stroke class: 1. Scott Pederson, Mount Ayr; 2. Dan Janzen, Missouri; 3. Dan Barber, Mount Ayr.

4-stroke 400 cc and under - 1. Mitch Gourley, Mount Ayr; 2. Wes Gregg, Diagonal; 3. Jeff Starlin, Diagonal.

4-stroke 401 cc and up - 1. Dustin Strueby, Conception Junction, MO; 2. Corey Ashbaugh, Maryville, MO; 3. Wes McCord, Grant City, MO.

Open class - 1. Dustin Strueby, Conception Junction, MO; 2. Corey Ashbaugh, Maryville, Mo; 3. James Carlson, Grant City, MO.

Motorcycle - 1. Tim Combs, Worth, MO; Paul Foman, Bedford; 3. Colton Quick, Tingley.

ATV wheelie contest: 1. Chad Starlin, Diagonal.

Results from the mud run held Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds included:

Stock class: 1. Tim Nelson; 2. Nick Cox; 3. Tony Keeler.

Modified class: 1. Michael Neright; 2. Jack Stringer; 3. Jim Stringer.

Open class: 1. Derrick Dredge; 2. Ron George; 3. Jim Stringer.

Mini class: 1. Tim Nelson; 2. Lonnie Swigart; 3. Josh Shields.

Powder puff: 1. Kris Morris; 2. Babs Cunningham.

A 45-minute kids and adult parade were a feature of Saturday afternoon and first and second place winners were named in several categories in the parade.

Named best overall entry in the kids parade was Hawk I entry by the Shields children.

Other winners were:

Costume: 1. Hawkeye with the Race, Clymer children; 2. Mount Ayr, A Great Pit Stop, Murphy and Jackson children.

Pets: 1. Doby the miniature greyhound, Saville children.

Decorated bicycles: 1. Grandpa's Pit Crew, Shields and Smith children; 2. Off to the Races in Mount Ayr, Mobley children.

Motorized vehicles: 1. Racing Mount Ayr Country Style, Shelmen children; 2. Racing to Ayr Days, Swank and Gregg children.

The adult parade included the three bands from the Mount Ayr Community schools, many floats, tons of candy and several of the tractors and cars from the shows and a large contingent of motorcycle riders that had taken part in the poker run wich was part of the weekend.

Winners of the divisions in the adult parade included:

Antique cars: 1. Ray Caraway; 2. Bret Dennis.

Antique tractors: 1. Ed and Julie Hulett; 2. John Campbell.

Organizations - 1. Mount Ayr American Legion; 2. Vote OK committee.

Businesses - 1. Pamida; 2. Mount Ayr Medical Clinic.

Political groups - 1. Democrat Party; 2. John Edwards spporters.

Horses - 1. Small bay carring Arkansas flag; 2. Black stud carrying Kansas flag.

The adult parade finished with a large mounted group carrying the 50 flags of each of the states of the union, a real crowd pleaser.

Eight teams competed in the second annual Smokin' in the Ayr barbeque contest. Competitors began the cooking Friday night and judging was done Saturday afternoon. People were allowed to taste the work of the teams during the afternoon.

Grand champion was Brian Cox with Brian's Beef of Grand River with reserve champion Brian Deemer with Sand Creek Cafe of Grand River.

In the three divisions the winners were:

Ribs - 1. Brian's Beef, Brian Cox; 2. Somthing's Still Smoking, Doug Still; 3. Meatheads, Donnie Burgess.

Pork - 1. Brian's Beef, Brian Cox; 2. Something's Still SMoking, Doug Still; 3. Sand Creek Cafe, Brian Deemer.

Brisket - 1. Brian's Beef, Brian Cox; 2. Sand Creek Cafe, Brian Deemer; 3. Lickin' Good BBQ, Lori Kelley.

Other teams included Mystery Meat, Brent Ricker; Community Meats, David Freed; and We Can Beat Your Meat, Janie Stark.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Submission by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2015