The Stanley Lions held their 51 Annual Watermelon Fest Sunday, July 21 at Chapman Park in Stanley. Included in the day’s fun were a 5K Run walk, vendor booths, cake walk, prize raffle, cake walk, and car show. With attendance down somewhat on account of the heat, the annual Watermelon Fest was nonetheless a success, with community members turning out for food, fun, and free watermelon. 2025 Miss Stanley Sydney Haas was among those on hand Sunday, with the Stanley Lions serving up Charcoal Chicken and Boy Scout Troop 50 serving guests from inside the community building.
Starting the day out, vendor booths opened at 8 a.m., followed with the 13th annual 5K Run/Walk. With several vendors lining the area between the rodeo grounds and tennis courts, the day also saw a craft show/flea market, chicken Dinner, Cake Walk, Bingo, kids games, and of course free watermelon.
Off in the Stanley Sportsmans Club Memorial Building, the Stanley Sportsman’s Club served free ice cream to all.
As for results from the 5K Run/Walk they were as follows. Overall winner among male runners was Owen Clark with a time of 17:53.2, with Maddy Vantassel overall winner among female runners with a time of 21:19.3. Runners for the 5K Run/Walk were divided by age group, with the top runner in each age category getting a watermelon to take home.
Winners for the 5k run/walk were as follows, listed by age group:

Overall 5K Run/Walk winner
Owen Clark,17:53.2

Female runners
Overall - Maddy Vantassel, 21:19.3

Age 10 to 14 - Aubrey Willkom, 27:11.4
Age 15 to 19 - Mariah Wehling, 23:34.0
Ages 20 to 29 - Maddy Vantassel, 21:19.3
Ages 30 to 39 - Ashley Nickel, 28:12.1
Ages 40 to 49 - April Reinart, 24:38.2
Ages 50 to 59 - Leslie Hallin, 43:03.9
Ages 60 to 69 - Wendy Stelter, 30.01.4
Ages 70 plus - Michelle Lange, 35:50.3

Male runners
Overall - Owen Clark, 17:53.2

Age 10 to 14 - John Smit, 18:55.7
Age 15 to 19 - Owen Clark, 17:53.2
Ages 20 to 29 - Jacob Anderson, 23:09.5
Ages 30 to 39 - Robert Allen, 21:11.6
Ages 40 to 49 - Timothy Smit, 19:29.5
Ages 50 to 59 - Scott Barth, 32:12.9
Ages 60 to 69 - Steve Markee, 1:01.50.3
Ages 70 plus - Mark Waite, 33:10.6
Age 9 and under - Michael Smit, 24:53.4

Also taking place Sunday, the 37th Annual Stanley Lions Annual Car Show saw over 80 cars and trucks registered down at Chapman Park. Car show enthusiasts could walk around and vote on their favorite vehicle, the event overseen this year by Jon and Lauren Cody of Cody’s Classic Cars.
The 37th Annual Car Show saw participants come not only from the Stanley-Boyd area, but also LaCrosse, Willard, Osseo, Black River Falls, Fall Creek, Hixton, Neillsville, Elk Mound, Holcombe, Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire, Cornell, New Auburn, Bloomer, Wisconsin Rapids, Park Falls, Cobban, Hatfield, Colfax, Merrillan, Mosinee, and elsewhere.
Best of Show for this year’s car show went to Patti & Bob Woller with a 1957 Buick Special. Class voting results for the Car Show were as follows:

A - 1900-1949
2nd place -1939 buick 40 Special - Mark Bernklau
1st place - 1935 Ford Coupe - Gary Crawley 

B -1950-1959
2nd place - 1957 Buick Special - Patti & Bob Woller 
1st place  - 1955 Chevy Bel Air - Pinky McCauley

C - 1960-1969
2nd place - 1968 Ford Mustang - Tom & Judy Smith
1st place - 1960 Chevy Impala - Jerry Conner

D - 1970-1979
2nd place - 1970 Road Runner - Mitch Peloquin
1st place - 1978 Pontiac Trans Am - Dave Lawrence

E - 1980-1989
2nd place - 1984 Chevy Camaro - Jim Thain
1st place - 1981 Chevy Corvette - Tim & Marlene Olson

F - 1990-Present
2nd place - 2012 Mustang Boss 302 - Scott Morris
1st place - 2016 Dodge Challenger - Hesston Hughes

G - Convertibles
2nd place- 1968 Plymouth Fury Convertible - Mark Kuryer 
1st place - 1966 Buick Wildcat Convertible - Ben Miland

H - Trucks
2nd place - 1939 Ford Truck - Travis Meyer
1st place - 1962 Chevy C10 - Randy Garbers

I - Modified/Street Rod/Rat Rod
2nd place -1969 Plymouth Barracuda - Mitch Peloquin
1st place - 1941 Willys - Peter Lawrence

Chosen after 4 p.m. Sunday, raffle winners for the Stanley Lions Watermelon Fest were as follows:
Donna Deveau, Ontario - $500
Sue Kowalczyk, Gilman - $250
Shiela Goodman, Cedarburg - $100
John Smoczyk, Stanley - $50
Sheryl Jones, Boyd - $50
Theresa Pries, Cadott - $50
Terry Solberg, Gilman - $50
Holly Winkler, Marathon - $25
Beavers Jacque, Thorp - $25
Jacob Marek, Waunakee - $25
Travis Meyer, Stanley - $25
Al Haas, Stanley - bench