They waited eagerly at the starting line to compete in the most important heat of the day. They had trained for weeks for this moment, and now, at long last, it was finally here. Out of 124 competitors, only this last few remained, and they were here to win. The first one to the finish line would take home the big blue ribbon and the distinguished honor of being this years strongest and speediest contender.
At the bottom of the track stood the 12 challengers: Rumpelstiltskin, Garfield, Woolly Willy, Speedy Smarty Pants, Strawberry Shortcake, Coca Cola, Dan, Slow Poke, Encyclopedia Brown, Willy, Lulu and Buffalo Bill. Master of ceremonies Ed Raber checked each racers readiness, called out the countdown, and gave the go-ahead, sending the 12 determined woolly worms up their strings and toward the prize.
The Charm Days annual Woolly Worm race has been going on for nearly 20 years, beginning back when Ed Raber, the unofficial mayor of the village of Charm, got a glimpse of Vermillion, Ohios Woollybear Festival and Parade, hosted by meteorologist Dick Goddard. Raber thought it would be a great activity for the Amish school children of Charm and a wonderful way to get families involved in Charm Days, the annual fundraising event for local people in need, now in its 29th year.
We used to have a bake sale every year, but nothing else would happen on Friday afternoons, said Raber. We wanted to try this to bring people in.
It worked. On Friday, Oct. 7, the blue and white tent behind Charm School was filled with folks from near and far, cheering the children, from the first graders to the fourth, as they clapped and cajoled or wordlessly willed their woolly worms up the string. Before each heat, Raber read the names of each child as well as their fuzzy friends, often eliciting a sea of snickers from the crowd.
Dont be surprised at some of these names, he warned spectators. Sometimes they get a little funny.
And they did, with inventive handles like Coffee Energy Boy, Rainbow Dash, and one named after Raber himself (that little guy didnt get very far up the rope). At one point, during the first heat of fourth-graders, Raber had to bend low as young Aaron repeated his woolly worms name. Laughter erupted when Raber conveyed the name to the crowd--Schnitzelbunk.
But the amusing monikers werent the only source of mirth. Raber himself was entertaining, too, as he provided the events play-by-play, asking competitors if theyd crammed their caterpillars with peanut butter or coffee, or remarking on the speed of a heats wormy winner.
Man oday! Raber exclaimed. That guy came to town to do business!
Raber remembers when the competition took place in the CSB parking lot. The event has grown since then, adding a heat or two for teachers and Charms merchants. Bev Raber, this years winner in the teacher category, has been competing for six years. Raber, who has been a bus driver for 24 years, had a simple strategy.
Blow on them good and try to keep em moving, she said.
That first place students heat ended in a three-way tie, another heat, and a race to the finish, with Lulu, Speedy Smarty Pants and Woolly Willy vying for number one.
Talk to em! Encourage em! Raber admonished. Holy moly! Whos it gonna be?
And it was Speedy Smarty Pants with his second-grade companion, Arlen Yoder, son of Allen and Leanna Yoder, who took home the big blue ribbon and a giant grin.
I just fed him grass, smiled Arlen, giving credit to his sister for discovering his winning worm.
Each child that participates receives a bag of candy, a ribbon stating that they competed in the race, and, this year, a wooden nickel.
Jill and P.J. Johns attended the Woolly Worm race for the first time this year. The couple, who divide their time between Summit County and a house at Lake Buckhorn, happened upon the festival last year just as it was ending. This year, they were both very impressed with the good attitude of the competitors.
It was so great to see the kids race, all big smiles, having fun and happy, said P.J. Johns.
The Johns try to spend as much time as they can at their Lake Buckhorn home, especially during the fall. On Saturday, they even invited some out-of-town friends to join them for the festivities.
We had the pancake breakfast, did some shopping, and got a few bargains, said Jill Johns. I really enjoyed those wee little ones, blowing on their caterpillars and clapping, she laughed.
Ed Raber said the children really do look forward to the event, and so do their moms and dads.
The kids get a big kick out of it, it brings the parents into town, and its just a great family get-together.
