The Maple Hill Loopers secured their fifth consecutive victory in the North Carolina State Fair’s Tobacco Stringing Contest on Friday, October 17. The team, composed of Sandy and Ken Jones from Maple Hill and Michael Sunday from Hendersonville, has a strong track record in the event’s 21-year history. In addition to their 11 first-place finishes, they have also earned three second-place and one third-place win.
During the contest, Sandy Jones completed the stringing of a stick of tobacco in 1 minute, 10.67 seconds and received 66 out of a possible 70 points for quality. The team was awarded $250 in prize money.
The Tie Masters, with stringer James Lawson of Walkertown and handlers Matthew Lawson from Belews Creek and Thomas Clouer, achieved a time of 1 minute, 28.19 seconds and earned a quality score of 69 out of 70.
Third place went to the Barbour Stringers from Benson: stringer Debbie Barbour and handlers Dean Barbour and Jeanette Barbour. They won $150 after Debbie Barbour posted a time of 1 minute, 20.72 seconds with a stick quality score of 65.
Judging criteria included both speed and stick quality—specifically bundle size, evenness of leaf heads, number of bundles per stick (36 to 38), tightness, evenness, neatness, and holding ability. “All three teams were close in quality points and the winner was determined by time,” contest organizers said.
The finished sticks from the competition were placed into a tobacco barn for flue-curing during the fair. The cured tobacco will be featured in a mock auction at 2 p.m., Friday, October 20 at the Tobacco Pavilion.
The event is sponsored by the John Deere Ice Cream Boys in Heritage Circle.
