Deren Evin prepares to run the St. George Races Turkey Trot at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — Hundreds of runners and walkers gave a collective turkey gobble at the Seegmiller Farm Saturday morning to help usher in the holiday season at the “Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot.”
The annual event put on by St. George Races in conjunction with Seegmiller Farm is a family-friendly tradition designed to give back to the community.
A small entry fee is required, but the real price of admission is three cans of food items per entrant. The food is collected, weighed and donated to Switchpoint Community Resource Center.
Last year around 1,100 pounds of food was donated, St. George Races Director Aaron Metler said. Online registrations more than doubled this year from 2016, Metler said, adding that he believes the food donation will be even larger than last year.
“This is the biggest one we’ve had,” he said.
The race featured a 5K and a 1 mile fun run through the neighborhoods surrounding Seegmiller Farm. Racers from near and far gathered with family and friends – some dressed in turkey and pilgrim costumes – and got in a little pre-Thanksgiving exercise.
Finishers were awarded medals leftover from races that St. George Races organizes throughout the year.
To top off the race, some participants signed up for the pie eating contest while others remained content to watch. Contestants raced to see who could consume an entire pumpkin pie the fastest. Pumkin pie and whip cream flew all over as contestants shoved pie into their mouths in hopes of being the champion.
Participants in the race received a ticket which was put into a drawing to win prizes, including the coveted frozen turkeys which are a traditional highlight of the event.
The event concluded with the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival, which featured pioneer games, music and tours of the historic buildings on the property.
“It’s just an awesome family event,” Metler said.
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Runners participate in the St. George Races Turkey Trot held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Racers get set to run the Turkey Trot at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
L-R: Glenda Adams and Suellen Adams from Wisconsin pose in their themed outfits at the St. George Races Turkey Trot held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Leftover medals from previous races put on by St. George Races are handed out at the finish of the Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
The Zamora family poses in their matching turkey shirts at the St. George Races Turkey Trot held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Turkeys to give away as prizes line a table at the St. George Races Turkey Trot held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
L-R: Aimee Bringhust, Aaron Metler and Corey Goodman Allred pose for a photo at the St. George Races Turkey Trot held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pumpkin pies are devoured during the pie eating contest at the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pumpkin pies are devoured during the pie eating contest at the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pumpkin pies are devoured during the pie eating contest at the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pumpkin pies are devoured during the pie eating contest at the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Noah Keeler participates in the pie eating contest as part of the St. George Races Turkey Trot and Harvest Festival held at Seegmiller Farm, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Pumpkin pies are devoured during the pie eating contest at the Seegmiller Farm Harvest Festival and Turkey Trot, St. George, Utah, Nov. 18, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News