By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
The results of the 5th annual ‘Saxon the Suffrage’ Cat decorating contest were announced last week at a reception held on Thursday, June 6 at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center.
The contest is organized each year by the Mesquite Women’s History and Culture Center (WHCC). Awards were given to outstanding entries from the total 42 wooden cats that were entered. These lavishly decorated entries had been individually adorned to suit the imagination of each contestant.
The contest was divided into categories for judging. Youth, Adults, Seniors. In addition a number of special awards were given including Sponsors Choice, Mayors Choice, People’s Choice, Best Suffrage theme, and Best of Show.
Judges of the contest included Becky Boyd, Cindi Delaney, Susan Wolfe, Bobbie Green and Gerri Chasko. Tabulators were Reenie and Larry McFarland.
The judges agreed it was very difficult with so many creative and inspirational entries, all begging for attention.
The cats were on display at Mesquite Tile and Flooring before being taken to the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery for final judging and for voting by the public for the People’s Choice Award.
Approximately 50 people gathered for the award ceremony for the winners to be announced. Even the Mesquite Showgirs showed up dressed as cats.
WHCC President Jean Watkins, who also started the Saxon Cat Contest, was beaming with all the interest being shown for the contest.
Randi Fuller from Mesquite Floor & Tile announced a similar contest, their “Carpet for Cause” event with the public entering homemade cat trees, Local businesses are donating raffle and silent auction items for this contest. All proceeds will go to the Animal Shelter.
Everyone was anxiously awaiting the winner announcements while drinking wine provide by the Mesquite Fine Arts Center and eating the delicious cupcakes provided by Randi Fuller.
In the youth division winners were: 1st place Allyson Andrus; 2nd place Mason Olsen; 3rd place Presley Rivers. Honorable mention went to Michael Pearce.
In the adult division, 1st place went to Karin Grance; 2nd to Anastasiya Kilisiva; 3rd to Angela Lockwood; and Honorable Mention to Amy Wells
In the Seniors’ division: 1st place went to Joellen Haack, 2nd to Rei Romney, 3rd to Nancy Gentry, and Honorable Mention to Wendy Douglas.
In the Saxon Theme Awards category, 1st place went to Karin Grance, 2nd to Tyler Roylance, 3rd to Amy Wells, and Honorable Mention to Rei Romney
Mesquite Director of Athletic and Leisure Services Nick Montoya then announced the Special Awards. Sponsor’s Choice award which went to Chuck Farmer. The Mayor’s Choice award went to Nancy Hewitt. The winner of the People’s Choice award was Angela Lockwood. Their prize was a 6-month membership at the Mesquite Recreation Center and a swag bag, donated from the Dept. of Athletics & Leisure Services.
Best of Show was announced last. It went to Joellen Haack for her beautifully quilted purple cat. She won a fantastic cat tree made and donated by Larry McFarland.
The Eureka Community Initiative donated $100 gift certificate to Gregorys to all first-place winners, except the youth winner received a $100 gift certificate.
All second-place winners received $50 cash. Third-Place $25, and Honorable Mention $10. All donated by Hangey’s Upholstery.
