The Second Annual Illinois State Morel Mushroom Hunting Championship
was held Saturday, May 3, 1997 at Magnolia, Illinois.
The schedule of events lists the Championship as "rain or shine". Next year it will say "shine or rain". Maybe if we give the rain second instead of top billing we may get a nicer day. For the second year we awoke on the event day to rain, except this year we also had wind and cold. Crooked Knee Golf Couse, which was the secret hunt site for both the 1996 and 1997 events, has jokingly asked us to host a mushroom festival in August - when they need the rain!
But the weather didn't stop the mushroom hunters of the mushrooms. 613 competed in the event in the Putnam County community of Magnolia. Last year's second place winner, Mike Hanley of Kickapoo, became the 1997 Grand Champion by finding 201 morel mushrooms in the two hour time span. Athens, Illinois resident Bill Hamilton captured Men's First Place honors with 172. And Gerry Miller of LaSalle found 91 mushrooms to become the Women's First Place winner.
The weather did dampen the afternoon activities. Auction prices that started around $30 per half-pound soon fell to $5 after an afternoon shower sent buyers to shelter. The auction was stopped and the balance of the 440 pounds to be sold were returned to the sellers.
The mushroom tours were halted after only three groups because the wet conditions made the road to the tour site treacherous. Festival goers enjoyed the indoor mushroom presentations provided by nature writer Stan Tekiela and Chef Joe Dobzynski, CFE.
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Write us at: Morel Mania, R.R. 1 - Box 42, Magnolia, IL 61336 (USA)
Phone: 309-364-3319
Fax: 309-364-2960
email: Morel Mania
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