Thank you to all of the participants in this year’s mini Country Fair at Bowfest, which was made possible thanks to the event’s sponsors, the dedicated Bowfest organizers and the BAA Bowen Agricultural Alliance volunteers at the country fair tent: mother-daughter duo Sarah Haxby and Helen Wallwork.
This year’s Bowfest-ish Country Fair might have been mini, but it was a big hit with over a dozen monstrous squash vying for biggest zucchini and the slug races being so popular we added a fourth race, proving that one of the oldest Bowfest traditions is still alive and well. Over one hundred slug tattoos, as well as t-shirts were handed out and worn proudly at the festival.
Thirty-two slugs raced down the track and the slug-jockey race teams cheered on the leopard, banana and black slugs. Black slugs are one of the most plentiful of slugs to be found on Bowen and are also known as red or chocolate slugs. Black slugs are native to Europe and have been introduced to many countries through human activity, including Canada. Bo the banana slug is the mascot of Bowfest and he invites people to slow down to island time. The indigenous Pacific banana slug is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, growing up to 25 centimetres! There were several large banana slugs at the races including the mighty 16cm Professor Slughorn, a banana slug who won the first race by being furthest down the track at the end of the 20-minute race. The length of each race mirrors the length of a ferry ride to Bowen. In the third race we had a small 5cm leopard slug named Cheetah run the second fastest race in Bowfest Slug racing history. Cheetah crossed the finish line at 10 minutes and 41 seconds! Congratulations to all the participants. And please note, as always: all of the slugs at the slug races were carefully returned to the wilds of Bowen after the races, and that the races are all in fun.
Heaviest zucchini contest
1st Place Fenella and Jason Jacquet 10.5 lb
2nd Place Collins Farm 7.7lb
3rd Place Marysia McGilvray 4lb
Youth
1st Place Oliver 8lb
2nd Place Livea 7lb
3rd Place Lochlan 5.5lb
Slug Race #1
1st Place Professor Slughorn raced by Jameson
2nd Place Racey raced by Freja and Henning
3rd Place Cupcake raced by Loch
Slug Race #2
1st Place Landon the Slug raced by Henry
2nd Place Roger raced by Evin
3rd Place Snick-a-roo raced by Max and AJ
Slug Race #3
1st Place Cheeta raced by Olive and Avery *2nd fastest time across the line ever!
2nd Place Salty the Slug raced by Joey
3rd Place Muffin raced by Ellen and Steve
Slug Race #4
1st Place Slimmey raced by Ryan, Caitlin and George
2nd Place Turbo, raced by Tom and Fin
3rd Place Jupiter raced by Jordy and Tori
Honorable mention to Andre de Grasse the slug, Bob, Thingamajig, Turbo, Sluggion, Rent-a-Slug, No-Name-is-my-name, Friendsteam, Bob Junior, Tug, King, Bowen Aero, Big B, Samay the Science Lion, Slowpoke, Sluggy, Speedy, Speedpants and all the other slugs that raced.
