Celebrity food-eating contest will debut this year at the Oley Valley Community Fair

Make no mistake, the participants in the “celebrity” food-eating contest Friday night at the Oley Valley Community Fair won’t have their stomachs stretched to the limit.

Seriously, who can’t polish off a hamburger and a cup of fries and a shake? Especially if you’ve skipped dinner.

If you’re expecting to see competitive eaters like Joey Chestnut gulping down 60 or more hotdogs, you’ll be disappointed.

These eight contestants — well-known figures in the Oley Valley community — will be lending their palates for charity Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. on the Side Stage. The top four will earn money for the organization they represent, said Kevin Bieber, fair president.

“It’s all in fun,” Bieber said. “There are some community members who are well known.”

The following are the contestants and the organizations they represent:

? Jeremy Deysher, Oley Valley FFA (Future Farmers of America)

? Kevin Guldin, an Oley Valley FF alumnus

? Ralph Richard, Oley Valley Heritage Association

? Jim Loshnoswsky, Oley Valley Business Association

? Deb Wanner, Oley Valley Community Library

? Krissi Swavely, Christmas in the Valley

? Jen Schorr, Oley Valley Community Education Foundation

? Tina McCoy, Oley Valley Youth League

In the first round, contestants divided into two groups of four will each down a burger and a cup – a 1-cup measure – of french fries, a side dish for which fair is well-known.

Tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.

The first two to finish their meal from each group will advance to the second round. This is where rubber meets the road.

These finalists will drink a vanilla milkshake, braving potential brain freeze, to determine the winners.

First place garners $250 for the charity of the winner’s choice; second place fetches $150 for the a cause; third and fourth place are $75 and $25, respectively.

The prizes are due to the generous support of the event sponsor, Blue Ridge Remodeling.

The food-eating contest is based on the rules of a more fluid version that was last staged about a decade ago. In that, contestants were ranked in order of how fast they could down a quantity of milk.

Bieber said the fair tries to introduce something new every year to go with annual rites such as the all-ages doughnut-eating contest.

Schorr, executive director of the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation, said she’s participating for the fun of it.

The nonprofit foundation’s mission is to enhance educational opportunities for students, residents, employees and alumni of the Oley Valley School District while encouraging community support and participation.

“I’ve never been in a food-eating contest,” Schorr said, “but I’m a competitive person and I’m not one to turn down a challenge. The fact that it could benefit a nonprofit I support made me say, ‘I’m in.’”

No matter where she finishes, it will be a win, she said.

“I like the burgers and fries and milkshakes from the fair,” Schorr added.