We hope everyone had a delightful holiday season and we will
now pick up from where we left you in the last edition - taking
you back to August, where warm weather was upon us!
When we returned back home from a week with the queens,
Queen Shelby visited Evans Farms for their Watermelon
Day, where they had face painting for the children, samples
of their melon, and even got to enjoy some soft shell crab
sandwiches!
The Sharptown Carnival is a local favorite, especially on
Friday nights, where the line for an oyster sandwich can be
hours long! Queen Shelby handed out slices of watermelon
to carnival visitors as they waited in line and even hosted a
watermelon eating contest that was aired live on WMDT, our
local television station.
The next morning we were off to Carytown, VA, where we
enjoyed their annual Watermelon Festival. Queen Shelby
was joined by the National Queen, the 2013 NC Watermelon
Queen, Allison Brake and Mar-Del Board member, Josh
Rowe. A big thank you to Josh for coordinating our promotion’s booth. A first for our association - Watermelon Beer!
That’s right, a local brewery asked us to share in their first
day of promoting their new watermelon beer. Aside from
beer tasting, visitors bowled with watermelons and competed
in seed spit contests amongst each other, while Queen Shelby served fresh slices of MAR-DELicious Watermelon!
Delaware International Speedway hosted their Sponsor
Night, where Shelby handed out trophies to the winners
throughout the night. They also had a Super Chevy Race
Weekend, with a classic car show, where our very own
Queen Shelby raced her car! A favorite for foodies is the
March of Dimes Farmer and the Chef event, where the Mar-Del Watermelon Association teamed up with the chef from
Baywood Greens to make a couple watermelon dishes that
attendees could taste and then vote on for their favorites.
Then came September and Shelby was off to Capitol Hill to
speak to the Congressman and Representatives from both
of the states she represents, where she was accompanied by
some of the other queens. Back to Washington, DC we went
in October for the Marine Corp. Marathon and Kid’s Run.
What an awesome weekend! A huge thank you NWPB for
organizing this wonderful event that brought thousands of
people sweet watermelon to enjoy!
We would like to sincerely thank all of our sponsors and
supporters this year, as Shelby has done an awesome job
promoting our product. I would also like to thank Dawn
Collins, Amanda Clougherty, Candace Hales, and Katelyn
Kelley Miller for their help over the summer filling in when
we needed them!
Upcoming events for Queen Shelby include the Georgia and
Florida Watermelon Association’s Conventions, the Maryland Ag Dinner, and the National Convention. In addition,
we would like to invite you to the beautiful Hyatt Regency
Resort in Cambridge, MD, where we are celebrating our association’s 50th year! We hope to see you there!
Warm Watermelon Wishes,
Caitlin Givens
Promotions Coordinator
It’s Always Watermelon Time!
2013 NC Queen, Allison and Shelby with “Paisley the Pig”
Farm Market.
Queens Brandi, Savannah, Shelby, and Jennifer gather on a
rooftop near the Capitol Building.
National Watermelon Association President, Don Hiller, with
the Queens at the United Fresh Expo.
Queen Shelby
with the
Washington
Memorial
towering over
her.
2013 Mar-Del Watermelon Queen, Chelsey Procino and Dawn
Collins joined Shelby at the March of Dimes Farmer and the
Chef event at Baywood Greens.
Queen Shelby
with Doug Gosnell
at Sharptown’s
Heritage Day.
Queen Shelby with the Evans family, Kevin, Katey, Kenna,
and Kylin for their Watermelon Day at Evans Farms. Thank
you for having us!
Shelby with her classic car at the Super Chevy Race at Delaware International Speedway.
Thank you Josh
Rowe for your
support and for
coordinating our
Carytown booth.
Queen Shelby at 3rd Wave Brewery in Delmar, DE for their
promotion of watermelon beer.
A future
watermelon queen
visits with Shelby
at the
Sharptown
Fireman’s
Carnival.
Queen Brandi
and Queen
Shelby could
not get over
how decked
out this girl
was in her
watermelon
gear for
Carytown’s
Watermelon
Festival!
Queens at the
Roosevelt
Memorial during
their Washington
D.C. tour.