Cornbread Festival Serves Up Success

With 50 entrants this year, the car show, sponsored by Sherm’s Auto, at the Cornbread Festival, was a great success. -SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson

Chili and cornbread contestants are wrapping it up as many had run out of their best recipes early. -SVT Photo

Sporting her fancy cowgirl boots, Macie Caldwell of Live Oak was all smiles as she rode the pony. -SVT Photo

By Tami Stevenson

The 4th Annual Wellborn Cornbread Festival, sponsored by the Wellborn Community Association (WCA), filled Andrews Square with sunshine and hundreds of happy visitors last Saturday.

     They had around 60 vendors, live entertainment from Rock Bluff Band, a car show, sponsored by Sherm’s Auto, chili and cornbread contests and so much more. This year, the prize money for each contest was increased by $50 or more.

     Last year would have been their fourth year, but due to effects from Hurricane Helene and anticipated effects from Hurricane Milton, the event was canceled. The WAC was happy there were no hurricanes wreaking havoc this year in the North Florida area.

     The car show was a great success, having around 50 entrants this year. Proceeds benefitted the Wellborn scholarship fund and Wellborn food bank. Winners are below.

     “I’m very proud,” said event organizer Annita Leonard, “This is our fourth Cornbread Festival and it’s doing good. A lot of great people have come out and Toys for Tots is doing well. We’ve had a lot of people bake for the Toys for Tots Cake raffle and we’ve just got some of the best bakers in the world here.” She was very proud of the plants this year. “Mr. Cooper always has the best plants.”

     A special thank you from the WAC to everyone that came out and to everyone that helped with the event. “We cannot make this happen without our volunteers and community support,” said Leonard, “thank you.”

Chili Winners

First - River Oak College $350

Second - Jonathan Lucas $200

Third - Devonna Tressler $150

Cornbread Winners

First - Darlene Rodriguez $350

Second - Angela Scott $200

Third - River Oak College $150

Car Show Winners:

First - Arthur Siebrecht with 1971 Ford Torino $1,000

Second - Mike Harris with 1947 Chevy Pickup $500

Third - Car #11, $250

Volunteers gather with event organizer Annita Leonard to announce the cake drawing winners to benefit Toys for Tots. L-R: Volunteers Jaenelle Osborn and Serenity Osborn, Columbia and Lafayette Toys for Tots Coordinator Inga Dwyer, Toys for Tots volunteer Linda Gayle along with Cornbread Fest organizer and Suwannee Toys for Tots Coordinator Annita Leonard. -SVT Photo

Rock Bluff Band kept visitors dancing at the 4th Annual Wellborn Cornbread Festival last Saturday. -SVT Photos by Tami Stevenson

Shepherds - 5.5 month-old Dusty Roads and 1.5 year-old Gypsy brought their family to the Cornbread Festival. L-R: Ritchie Perry, Iona Salisbury, Sandee Salisbury and Alex Urgelowich. All from Wellborn. -SVT Photo

One vendor offered knitted and other handmade Christmas decor. -SVT Photo

L-R: Suwannee Corrections Recruitment Sergeant Silver with Canine Officers Craig Hogan and John Coates. -SVT Photo