CAMBRIDGE – An estimated 15,000 people attended the
Deerassic Classic Giveaway weekend at the Deerassic Park Education Center Friday
and Saturday, which raised monies for the non-profit National Whitetail Deer
Education Foundation.
Attendees came from states as far away as Texas,
Oklahoma, Louisiana, New York, New Hampshire Missouri, and Utah to spend the
weekend in Guernsey County. All regional lodging facilities and campgrounds were
booked.
Speakers over the weekend included State Senator Joy
Padgett, Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau Director
Debbie Robinson, and Nashville talent Irlene Mandrell.
Some attendees began calling the gathering “Deerstock,” reminiscent of Woodstock. However, all was calm during the weekend, and traffic
back-ups were minimal on U.S. 22 with improved parking procedures from last
year.
The top prize winner at Saturday’s Deerassic Classic
Giveaway drawing was Terance Brunty of Mantua, Ohio, who
won $50,000. Randy Rippeth of Quaker City won Friday’s top Big Buck Bonus
Ticket prize of a 2004 H2 Hummer. Beth Leek of
Barnesville was the winner of the 50/50 drawing, taking home $27,354 in cash. Winning
numbers from the weekend are posted on www.deerassic.com.
“Last year we did something great, but this year we
made it better and we’re getting businesses and corporations from across the
nation who attended the weekend interested in supporting our cause,” said
NWDEF founder and park Operations Director Dean Ziegler. “This helps build
confidence that we can continue to make our vision a reality. This will be great
for the community,” he added.
Local and regional sponsors who helped make this year’s
Classic possible include Gold Sponsors Dunning Motor Sales, Inc., Horton
Crossbow, Gander Mountain, Built-Rite Buildings, Luburgh, Inc., Lashley Tractor
Sales, Inc., Stoney’s RV Sales & Service, and Pine Lakes Lodge Bed &
Breakfast, Resort & Conference Center.
Silver Sponsors were Newhouse Printing and Smith Dairy
Products Company.
Celebrity
Challenge Sponsors included the above Gold and Silver sponsors plus Stephanie
McClain Photography, Timberline Cabins, Pro-Tect Systems, Inc., T.J.’s
Contracting LLC, Country Curios, Pepsi, Walnut Creek Log Structures, Fink’s
Harley-Davidson, Hidden Valley Deer Farm, Bichard Trucking, and Craft Electric.
Friday night guests were treated to a free concert by
Third Wheel from Nashville, which had the crowd dancing and tapping their feet.
Beautiful weather was a bonus, and hundreds of campers settled in for the night
on the park grounds.
The Classic drawing kicked off Saturday with the national
anthem sung by local talent Dee Hlad, and three skydivers jumping down to the
site carrying an American, Ohio, and Deerassic Park flag. Tractor-drawn
hay-wagons provided shuttles from parking to the event area, and Saturday’s
attendees were treated to free barbecue-style food by Cowboy Concessions and ice
cream from Smith Dairy. A large Event TV screen magnified the stage happenings
both days.
The staff at Deerassic Park wishes to thank all the group
and individual volunteers who helped make the production of this grand event
possible.