Dixon Melon Days: summer never tasted so sweet

DIXON—In a “perfect melon year” with an abundant crop of mouthwatering melons, the annual Dixon Melon Days celebration hit the streets of Dixon on Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24.

The event kicked off Friday night at 6 p.m. with live music and dance, with the bulk of activities landing on Saturday.

Joey Hettick, Harley Hettick’s wife and beloved melon grower, said the year was slower compared to previous years but overall the event went smoothly.

“Everyone had fun and had a lot of time to visit with people, said Hettick. “That’s what I think Harley likes the most – the social part of it.”

The day full of events kicked off bright and early at 7 a.m. with a Fireman’s Breakfast at the Dixon Senior Center. At 8:30 a.m. the Melon Days run went into affect with only a few runners lining up at the starting line.

Horseshoes and sand flew at the Doug Morigeau Memorial Horseshoe Tournament with a cash prize value totaling up to $350. Teams battled it out on the horseshoe arena, using their aim and accuracy as a means to bring home a little extra spending money.

Tammy Espinoza and William Croft took home the championship title along with a $200 prize, while Cal Courville and Adam Wood came in second, securing $90. In third place were Brian Bockznik and Beth Plummer, leaving the horseshoe arena with $60 in their pockets.

A parade followed at 11 a.m. and shortly after the kids lined up across from the Dixon Elementary School to compete in a variety of different kids games.

As the kids prepared themselves for a battle to the finish line, different age groups banded together in a friendly competition, motivated by dollar bills.

As the kids wheel barrowed, bear crawled and sprinted through the park, $55 of prize money was handed out to those in first through third places. As the money started to dwindle, the competition became stiffer and only the first and second placers would receive cash for their accomplishments.

The last race, a long dash weaving through different obstacles, gave kids under the age of six a grand prize of five dollars, while the older kids competed for a prize of six dollars.

At 1 p.m. the basketball courts heated up with a 3 on 3 basketball jamboree, featuring a fierce competition for a win. The teams battled in the heat of the day for that prize basket, gaining points towards their team total.

Amanda Joe won the drawing of a $100 Rod’s Harvest Gift Certificate and at 2:30 p.m. the melon-eating contest heated up the park.

Eager participants, mostly young kids, lined up to feast on the melons. The person with the most pieces of melon in their belly at the end of the competition took the title for that age group.

As melon juice flowed down their faces and kids chomped down as quick as they could, only a few winners would be announced.

Kai O’Brien, 4, Kellen McClure, 8, Gabriel Myard, 11, and Thomas Hagel, 15, were crowned the melon-eating champs, each gaining a prize of five dollars.

A raffle helped wind down the events for the day, right before the final event, the Lil Buck-a-Roo Rodeo.

Gene Posivio of St. Ignatius took home a Ruger American .270 rifle; Dave Orr of St. Ignatius won the KwaTaqNuk Romance Pack; and Slim Arends won the one-day float trip.

The Lil Buck-a-Roo Rodeo began later than expected but offered a load of entertainment as participants took to eight events including barrel racing, goat tying, a flag race, flying W, mutton bustin’, boot race, rescue race and a pole bending competition.

A Senior Youth Buckle, an all around Junior Youth Buckle and a Mutton Busting buckle was awarded to the three winners.

Organizer Aleacia Landon said Dixon Melon Days is a way to celebrate community and the melons grown by the Hettick family.

The Hettick family began growing melons 26 years ago and have a large variety up for grabs, varying from cantaloupe to red and yellow watermelons and a tropical melons called a sinful cantaloupe – a crowd favorite.

“They have been selling great this year,” said Chauntay Cripps. Cripps has been a family friend of the Hettick’s ever since she was a little girl and grew up helping with the melons.

Last year talk of the water compact could have quashed the growing efforts, but to everyone’s delight the melons were present in full abundance.

“There was not enough in the water compact to finish a melon crop, that’s how low the water was distributed. If they do that then we won’t be able to grow this crop,” said Hettick. “Water is our lifeline and it’s the most important thing in the world to us. So we have to come to some agreement that will allow us to do that.”

Although the worries have been put aside for this year, the future is still unknown with the water compact being renegotiated.

“This issue is only about water and our crop. It’s not racial; it’s not any of those other things. It’s the most important thing we need besides dirt,” said Hettick.