Madison Messenger - August 28th, 2022

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PAGE 4 - MADISON MESSENGER - August 28, 2022 Sept. 3-5, 2022 Ox Roast WEST JEFFERSON www.madisonmessengernews.com Garrette Park Schedule of events Saturday, Sept. 3 12-10 p.m.–Vendors, crafts, bounce houses and games 12 p.m.–Parade 1:30 p.m.–Visiting festival queens promoting area festivals at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 2 p.m.–Queens luncheon at West Jefferson High School 3-4 p.m.–Escape artist Michael Griffin at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: Hurt-Battelle Memorial Library) 4 p.m.–Pie eating contest at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsors: Front Row Sports Bar and The Vape Shop) 5 p.m.–Queens contest (Little Miss, Jr. Miss and Miss Ox Roast) at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 7 p.m.–Watermelon eating contest - West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsors: Circle S Farms and Midnight Creationz) 7-9 p.m.–Ox Roast Dance at Garrette Park (sponsor: Village of West Jefferson Parks and Recreation) 7:30 p.m.–West Jefferson High School Jazz Band at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 9 p.m.–Pie auction at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage Sunday, Sept. 4 9 a.m.–Community Church Service at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 12-10 p.m.–Vendors, crafts, bounce houses and games 1:30 p.m.–Donut hole eating contest at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: The Daily Buzz) 2 p.m.–Victorious KayBirds band at West Jefferson Hardware/ Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: WJ Plumbing & Heating) 3 p.m.–Kiddie tractor pull signups 3:30 p.m.–Kiddie tractor pull at Sandwich Serving Shelter (sponsor: Madison Health) 5 p.m.–Hot dog eating contest at Sandwich Serving Tent (sponsors: Ray Martin and Linda Hall) 5:30 p.m.–Lighting of the pit 5:30 - 10 p.m.–Our Short Years band at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: National Road Bar) Monday, Sept. 5 7 a.m.–Ox Roast Bicycle Tour at Ox Roast Grounds 8 a.m.–Running of the Ox 5K & 1-mile run/walk at West Jefferson High School 10 a.m.-3 p.m.– Cruis’in West Jefferson Car Show at top of hill (sponsor: Rader, McDonald and Tidd Funeral Home) 11 a.m.-7 p.m.–Vendors, crafts, bounce houses and games 11 a.m.–Oxy Baby, Oxy Tot and Oxy Sweethearts Contest at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 11:30 a.m.–Ox Roast sandwich tickets go on sale at Ox Box 12-6:30 p.m.–Serving of Ox Roast sandwiches at Sandwich Shelter (behind West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage) 1:30 p.m.–Ice cream eating contest at West Jeff Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: Peterman Tree & Lawn Service) 2-4 p.m.–For What It’s Worth band at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: IBEW) 4:30 p.m.–Raffle drawing at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage 5-7 p.m.–MLC Project band at West Jefferson Hardware/Flyers Pizza Stage (sponsor: The Brenneman Family) 7:30 p.m.–Auction of Ox Roast beef at Sandwich Shelter Bounce house wrist bracelets for all day ($10) Grand marshal: Dr. Rohner By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor Dr. Ralph Rohner Jr. knows a thing or two about putting on an Ox Roast, just one of many reasons he has been named grand marshal of this year’s Ox Roast parade. Ralph’s history with the Labor Day weekend festival dates back to 1980, the year he and his wife, the late Karen Rohner, moved to West Jefferson. “We joined Sts. Simon & Jude Church where we met Rudy and Joan Denes who got us into the Community Association,” Rohner said. The West Jefferson Community Association hosts the Ox Roast, now in its 71st year. Ralph was elected to the group’s board of trustees in the fall of 1980 and remained on the board until 2013. He served three years as president. During Ralph’s time on the board, the festival evolved as organizers added stage shows to the entertainment schedule, opened up space at Garrette Park for craft booths, and expanded vendor opportunities to commercial entities to complement the local groups who set up shop at the festival. While the cooking process for the famous Ox Roast sandwiches has remained the same—beef seasoned and wrapped in foil and set over coals in a long, in-ground trench to cook overnight— Ralph said a change was made back in the day to make the meat preparation a little more efficient. “We used to buy the meat on the bone, so we spent Sunday cutting it off the bone, trimming the fat, rolling it in spices and wrapping it in foil,” he recalled. “Then we moved to Falters (Fine Meats) who cut the meat off the bone for us.” The preparation process is still a herculean chore, but association members and other folks volunteer to get it—and the many other tasks it takes to put on the four-day festival—done. For many years, Ralph helped to man “The Big 6,” a gambling wheel, at the festival where the maximum bet was 25 cents. He and Karen also worked the bingo tent. “Oh, we had big prizes at the bingo tent. We gave out watermelons!” he said with a chuckle. Ralph cherishes the many friendships he made during his time with the community association and the many memories made at the Ox Roast. “Every year, when we closed up the festival on Monday night, it was a feeling of relief and accomplishment,” he said. The Ox Roast isn’t the only thing Ralph knows a thing or two about. He spent decades as an orthopedic surgery specialist, operating a private practice in Columbus from 1971 until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2020. Ralph was born in Columbus and raised in German Village in the house his great-grandparents built. He graduated from high school in Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick Dr. Ralph Rohner Jr., a longtime West Jefferson resident, will serve as grand marshal of this year’s Ox Roast parade. 1956 and from Capital University with a degree in biology in 1960. “I started as a physics major, but I was disenchanted with mechanical drawing, so I went into biology because I’ve always been interested in plants and animals,” he said. That interest remains strong to this day, as Ralph shares his home and property with three peacocks, two peahens, a rooster, eight chickens, three dogs, two cockatoos, two lovebirds, one canary, and a fox. Ralph considered going to veterinary school after college, but his father, who was in orthopedics, convinced him to go to medical school. Ralph did not plan to go into orthopedics, but he was assigned to a stint in that specialty his sophomore year at the Ohio State University (OSU) School of Medicine. “I don’t know if my dad had anything to do with that (assignment) or not, but I just stayed with it,” he said with another chuckle. While in medical school, Ralph worked as an extern at Riverside Methodist Hospital where he met Karen who was a student at Riverside’s White Cross School of Nursing. They exchanged vows in 1964, the same year Ralph graduated from OSU. Ralph served two years in the U.S. Air Force, and the couple raised four children, Ralph III, Laura, Marc, and Christopher. Ralph is now grandpa to five grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and another great-grandchild on the way. Visitors to this year’s Ox Roast can watch and cheer for Ralph as he heads up the parade at noon on Sept. 3. The festival runs Sept. 3-5.
www.madisonmessengernews.com August 28, 2022 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 5 Ox Roast WEST JEFFERSON Sept. 3-5, 2022 Garrette Park Festival offers wide assortment of contests to enter The West Jefferson Ox Roast festival, set a 5K and 1-mile run/walk at 8 a.m. Sept. 5. for Sept. 3-5, offers a wide variety of interactive activities, including several contests. ferson High School. Through Sept. 4, en- The course starts and finishes at West Jef- Cruis-in: A car show will take place Sept. trants can register online (search for “West 5. Registration runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 Jefferson” at runsignup.com); the cost is $20 p.m. with awards at 3 p.m. The cost to enter for ages 0 to 17 years old and $35 for ages is $10. Awards will go to the Favorite 35, 18 and older. Same-day registration is $40 Ladies’ Choice, and Ox Roast Choice. Door for adults and $20 for ages 0-17. prizes and a 50/50 raffled are planned. For Awards will go to the top two male and details, contact Ronnie at (614) 352-4868. female finishers overall. The top finishers in 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk:The West Jefferson Youth Athletic Association is hosting and younger, 15-19, and 20 and older. by age groups will be recognized, as well: 14 Queen cherishes reign Hello, everyone. My Donna Warner, thank name is Morgan Myers, and I’m the 2021 West Jefferson Ox Roast Queen. you for being my pageant director and encouraging me to start this journey, A year ago, I was along with Jeff Pfeil for crowned and started an amazing journey. My reign as queen was amazing, but I never knew how much it would end up meaning to me. From the videos and pictures with my queen best friend to “borrowing” decorations from luncheons, this is genuinely a year that will live with me forever. Being here today wouldn’t be possible without a few running the Ox Roast and giving us a festival that I was able to represent. To my court, there is something special about every single one of you. I was so scared going into this—afraid the kids wouldn’t like me or want to be with me. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. When life had me struggling and at my lowest point, the parades people, so I want to thank Morgan Myers them. To my amazing mom: where I got to see all of my you’ve always had a deeper understanding of who I am. You’ve always known that sometimes I need a reminder that I am beautiful, because sometimes I just don’t feel it. You would always offer that extra compliment to make me feel good about myself before walking out the door. I may have had the crown and the sash, but ,as everyone knows,you are “Queen Tiff,” and I simply wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t have you by my side. To my dad: thank you for being the ultimate pageant dad and standing by my side when I didn’t have the courage to do things. To my Aunt Kate and Uncle Lee: thank you for pulling the float and for taking me places when my mom couldn’t. We had the best times together, from Lee telling me I looked like the witch coming out of the well to the endless Dr. Peppers you’d buy me on car rides. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Speaking for myself and the court, you guys did amazing stepping away from dirt drags and trucks to being the pageant family of any little girl’s dream. Of course. thank you to my grandparents for lending the truck when we needed it and watching me in parades, and to my sister for reminding me what she did as queen and how she “definitely” wore the crown better than I did. littles reminded me that even though I’m not perfect, they still loved me for who I am. You made me realize that maybe I am a kid’s person after all. You guys are the future of the Ox Roast, and I can say without a doubt it is in good hands. Just about every court has impacted me somehow, but I especially want to thank the Ashville 2021 queen, the 2021 Parade of the Hills court, and the Swiss court for the endless pictures, laughs, inside jokes, and memories we made together. Saying I came to love you as family would be an understatement. At this year’s festival, I will crown a new beautiful girl, and she will step in my place. Although I’ve been dreading this moment for all of the 365 days that I’ve had the honor of holding this title, I know you lovely ladies will care for her and teach her just as you did for me. At 16, I’m starting my senior year, hanging on to what feels like the end of my childhood. So, I want to leave with a quote from my favorite childhood TV show: “Why are you so sad? Because we’re saying goodbye, and that’s a really hard thing to do. So, say hello.” So, hello, everyone. My name is Morgan Myers, and I am and forever will be the 2021 West Jefferson Ox Roast queen. Thank you. Eating Contests: There is no cost to enter the following eating contests. - Pie—4 p.m. Sept. 3 -Watermelon—7 p.m. Sept. 3 - Donut holes—1:30 p.m. Sept. 4 - Hot dogs—5 p.m. Sept. 4 - Ice Cream—1:30 p.m. Sept. 5 Oxy Tot Contest: Girls ages 25 months old to 4 years old are eligible to participate in the Oxy Tot contest. The contestant that receives the most points will be the winner. Points are 10 cents each. Entrants must decorate a container in any manner they desire and place it in an establishment of their choice. A festival representative will keep tally on the number of points received. Containers must be turned in at the Ox Box on the festival grounds by 6 p.m. Sept. 4. Each participant receives a certificate and a bag of goodies. The winner receives a crown, trophy, flowers and sash. The winner will be announced following the Sweetheart Contest on Sept. 5. For details, contact Donna Warner at (614) 580-7031. Baby Contest: The annual Oxy Baby King and Baby Queen contest is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 5 at the National Road Bar stage on the festival grounds. There are separate categories for girls and boys. The age groups are: 0-6 months old, 7-12 months old, 13-18 months old, and 19-24 months old. The entry fee is $10. A copy of a hospital record or birth certificate is required. Each participant receives a certificate. Winners receive prizes. The deadline to enter is Sept. 3. Entry forms are available at: Flyer’s Pizza, 121 W. Main St., West Jefferson; West Jefferson Hardware, 228 E. Main St., West Jefferson; www.westjeffoxroast.org; or by contacting Donna Warner at (614) 580-7031. Kiddie Tractor Pull: 3:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Free to enter. Parade: The West Jefferson Ox Roast parade will take place on Sept. 3. Line-up is at 11 a.m. and step-off is at noon. This year’s theme is “Hawaiian Luau.” Anyone who wants to participate is asked to fill out a parade form which can be found online at www.westjeffoxroast.org. Awards and prize money will be given out to top entries. For details, call Sandy Boucher at (614) 879-9662. Looking to Save on Medicare Costs? Your Connection to Care Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare helps pay for monthly premiums (Part B) and prescription drugs (Part D). To learn more, and to see if you qualify, call 800-589-7277 or email medicare@coaaa.org. This project was supported in part by grant number 2101OHMIAA/MIDR-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington D.C. 20201. Subrecipients undertaking a project with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
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