Yukon Days fashioned for family fun

An outhouse race, games, pie baking contest and beauty contest for kids are on tap.

By MICHELLE JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

ODESSA -- A day of fun for the family is the goal of the members of the Odessa Civic Club for their Yukon Days celebration Saturday. Beginning at 10 a.m., children and parents will be treated to games, sack and wheelbarrow races, a pie baking contest and even an outhouse race.

"It will be an old-fashioned family fun day," said Joyce Dozier, president of the club.

Yukon Days will be at the Gunn Highway Flea Market on the corner of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway in Odessa.

The event was an idea brought back from Alaska by Virginia Behnke, who died in 1989. She wanted to have fun for the children without it costing a fortune, said Gloria Jasinski, another member of the club.

"It is an old-fashioned country fair," said Jasinski.

If you don't know what an outhouse race is, well, it is simple. A crew builds an outhouse on two wheels, and during the race one person sits inside of the outhouse while four people push or pull it. The plans are kept secret, so secret no one will talk about what they are building. The race is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Last year's winning team in the outhouse race, the Outriggers sponsored by Andy Manning and Fred Allen, will compete against the Golden Throne, entered by members of the civic club. In addition to the outhouse race, there will be a sack race at 11:30 a.m. and a tug of war at 2:30 p.m. The tobacco spitting contest was another idea Behnke brought back, but it was eliminated.

"We eliminated the tobacco spitting, because no one wanted to participate or man the booth," said Dozier. "We also decided not to throw cow patties either."

But the longest beard contest and the tongue-in-cheek election of a mayor, a sheriff and a dog catcher for the unincorporated community are still part of the day's activities.

Bakers can bring pies the day of the event to be judged by local celebrities. There is word that a mock pecan pie, made of pinto beans, a buttermilk pie and a Vidalia onion pie will be entered in this year's event, Dozier said.

"I'm hoping someone will bring a shoofly pie, as I have heard about them all my life," said Dozier.

The pie judging will be at 11 a.m., and a beauty pageant for children ages two through 18 is set for 12:15 p.m. Applicants will compete in three different age categories and will be judged on country costume, charm, talent and answers to random questions.

Games, a dunk tank and two miniature horses for children to look at, not ride, will also provide entertainment.

Although food won't be served at the event, a restaurant in the nearby flea market offers snacks and beverages.

Barbara Moore, manager of the flea market, said the restaurant will be offering free pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Local civic clubs, the Pasco County Library and other organizations will have booths set up throughout the day.

"All of interest to the family," said Dozier.

-- Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. She can be reached at (813) 226-3459. Her e-mail address is jones@sptimescom.

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