By ANN ALLEN
Indiana Correspondent

MENTONE, Ind. — In Mentone, where chickens outnumber humans hundreds to one and a 10-foot, three-ton concrete egg proclaims the Kosciusko County town as “The Egg Basket of the Midwest,” there’s little that hasn’t been tried to boost the town’s claim to fame.

There was even an attempt to erect an egg-shaped water tower a few years ago. It failed because of prohibitive costs, but nothing could scramble the community’s enthusiasm for the egg. Past Egg Festivals have boasted egg-eating contests, chicken drops (a subject better left to the poor chicken expected to make a deposit on the lucky square), egg races and egg tosses.

This year, something new has been added to the June 4-6 Egg Festival: The town’s first Great Egg Nest Race, sponsored by Midwest Poultry.

According to race chairperson Krystal Lybarger, rules are simple and rewards are great. Each entry needs a team of four to six people who can safely construct a structure that is no more than six feet wide and capable of being pulled, pushed or carried from point A to point B. (No motors allowed.)

The structure must look like a nest and must carry a chicken (preferably a pint-sized human) who needs to remain on the nest the entire race or the team will be disqualified.

Contestants will race in pairs from Jackson to Main Street with winners racing winners until only one team remains undefeated.
The reward: $500 for first place; $200 for second. Hardly pinfeather money.

The complete schedule includes:
June 4
5 p.m. - Flea markets, crafts, food vendors (uptown)
7:30 p.m. - The classics in memory, Russell and Leona Eber (fire station)
June 5
4-10 p.m. - Kids’ area with attractions from Extreme Fun (uptown)
Garage sales all over the Mentone area
4 p.m. - 16th Egg Festival Car, Truck, Tractor and Motorcycle Show (uptown)
6-9 p.m. - 50’s and 60’s music and 50-50 drawing (uptown)
4-9 p.m. - “Guitar Hero” contest in the tent (uptown)

June 6
8 a.m. - Egg City 5k run and 1 mile walk (fire station)
9 a.m. - Extreme Fun kids’ area, flea markets, crafts, food stands, garage sales
9 a.m. - 3-on-3 basketball with Bill Patrick (Mentone gym)
9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Bell Memorial Library book and video sale
Judging the parade entries (Parade line-up site S. Oak Street, downtown)
All Day - Mel’s Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
11 a.m. - Parade sponsored by Mentone Chamber of Commerce - Theme: “School Daze” - Dr. Dan Kramer, parade marshal (Main Street)
11 a.m. - Lions Club chicken BBQ (fire station)
Noon - 3-on-3 basketball (Mentone Gym)
12:30 p.m. - Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster contest (fire station)
1 p.m. - Northern Indiana Pullers/garden tractor pull/weigh-in (park)
1 p.m. - Kids’ games (fire station)
1:30 p.m. - Kiddie tractor pull, sponsored by Tim and Tina Carter (fire station)
2:30 p.m. - Egg toss (fire station)
3 p.m. - Possum Ranch clowns (fire station)
4 p.m. - 1st Great Egg Nest Race (Jackson and Tucker streets)
5-8:30 p.m. - “Guitar Hero” contest in the tent (uptown)
6 p.m. - First Baptist Church choir (stage)
6:30 p.m. - Cake walk (stage)
7 p.m. - Crowning Miss Mentone (stage)
7:30 p.m. - Variety show (stage)