BUTLER, Ohio – Six people entered a hotdog eating contest on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Butler Community Fest, but only one would be named champion.
Matt Yuengert, of Butler, claimed his throne by eating a total of 13 hotdogs in three minutes.
“The guys were talking about (the contest) down at the shop, we work at Mid-Ohio Tubing, and everybody was like, ‘we’ll go sign up,’ but nobody showed up, so I signed up,” Yuengert said.
Each contestant started with 25 hotdogs on their plate. The goal was simple: Eat as many hotdogs as possible in three minutes. When the dust cleared, Yuengert, who had 12 left on his plate, edged second-place finisher, Dimo Carano, by two.
By eating the most, Yeungert received a $100 cash prize and a $100 gift certificate for Made in the 419 apparel.
Carano received a steak dinner for two at Ducky’s Pub and Grill for finishing in second.
When asked how he felt after the competition, Yuengert said, “I’m still hungry.”
The contest was co-sponsored by Ducky’s, which provided the hotdogs, and Richland Source.
“We really want to be a part of the community – we love Butler,” Ducky’s co-owner Rhonda Sellers said. “We’ve been here three years, and I really, really hope next year will be even bigger and better.
“We’ll do something a lot more fun,” she added.
Sellers purchased Ducky’s in 2012 with her husband, Brian, aka Ducky. The pub, which is known for its coneys, is located at 9 Cleveland St. in Butler.
“We’re still in the building process, but every day, Ducky’s gets bigger and better, and we become more and more a part of the community,” Sellers said.
Butler Community Fest, which began Friday and went through Saturday in downtown Butler, was the brainchild of the Butler Area Merchants Association. The idea, according to BAMA president Mark Dubler, was to do something that brought the community together, much like Old-Fashioned Days, Butler’s former community festival.
“We also wanted to do something that kind of helped businesses in the community,” Dubler said. “That’s really kind of what the Merchant’s Association is about, trying to bring folks to Butler.”
Proceeds raised from the festival will support BAMA, which is a nonprofit organization.
