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2018 Pumpkin Winner - John Van Hook, Somerset, KY, with 1293 lbs. entry







2018 Allardt Pumpkin Festival King and Queen

Dwayn and Peggy Delk



Dwayn and Peggy are both lifelong residents of Fentress County.

Born in the Round Mountain community to Exon and Velma Delk, Dwayn graduated from York Institute in 1966 and a year later joined the Army where he served two years. He returned home in 1969 after spending one year in Vietnam. He and Peggy were married in 1970 and moved to Allardt in 1974.

Dwayn worked at Jamestown Broilers until it closed in 1980. and then raised chickens until his retirement in 2014.

Over the years, Dwayn enjoyed spending much time with his friends Jim Asberry, Dave Terry, Scottie Blair, George Kilgore, and Larry Cooper at the Allardt Food Market.  The conversation always seemed to get around to giant pumpkins, and encouraged by his friends, Dwayn decided to try his hand at growing a giant pumpkin of his own.

As it turned out, Dwayne was a big success at growing pumpkins. His giant entries won the Allardt Weigh-off in 1994, 1995, and 1998. And his Fentress County Fair pumpkin entry won the first place title in 1995.

Dwayn has served with the Allardt Volunteer Fire Department since 1995 and has been a board member of the Fentress County Farm Bureau for several years.

One of nine children, Dwayn's wife Peggy was born in Grimsley, to Haskell and Odell Beaty. She graduated from Clarkrange High School in 1969, where she was a member of the Lady Buffaloes Basketball Team.

After graduation, Peggy worked in the clothing industry and in retail at several locations in Fentress County before joining Walmart in 2004, where she worked until her retirement in 2015.

Dwayn and Peggy have two children- Anita and husband Bryant Johnson, and Anthony and wife Marlena Tompkins. – and four grandchildren – Wesley, Dillon, Emily, and Madison.

Peggy enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with family. Dwayn likes to fish, camp, and watch his grandchildren compete in various sports.

The City of Allardt and the Pumpkin Festival Committee would like to thank Dwayn and Peggy for their life-long community service and support of the Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh Off.

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2018 - Jaimee Paul to appear at Oct 6 Pumpkin Festival



This year’s Allardt Pumpkin Festival (Saturday, Oct. 6) will offer a special entertainment treat. Singer Jaimee Paul delighted crowds on the square in Jamestown following the 2017 Christmas Parade. She and her musician husband, Leif Shires, will perform two sets onstage at Allardt City Hall, the first at 4 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m.
Raised in southern Illinois, she sang in choirs and her style is influenced deeply by gospel music, as well as blues and jazz. After high school Jaimee headed to Nashville to attend the “Harvard of Music Business,” Belmont University, and quickly found her place as a contemporary artist singing original songs as well as songs deeply rooted in the American Songbook. 
After college, she worked at various record labels handling marketing and radio promotion. Her passion, however, was singing and she moved quickly into a first-call studio session singer as well a background vocalist for such artists as country superstar Wynonna, The Judds, and Kelly Clarkson. Industry giants such as Bill Gaither, David Foster and Michael Omartian recognized her world class talent, and it wasn’t long until she took the stage as her own. Jaimee signed a record deal with Green Hill Music after southern gospel legend Bill Gaither heard her sing and recommended the deal. Her debut record, “At Last” reached #1 on the iTunes Jazz charts. She has recorded over 10 albums for Green Hill and many have placed in the Top 10 including “Bonded,” a tribute record to the 50 years of the James Bond film series.
In 2013, Jaimee recorded a devotional hymns album, “Hear My Prayer” which garnered a Dove Award nomination for Best Inspirational Album. Her Christmas record “Christmas Time Is Here” received over one million streams. She is also a songwriter and has written many beautiful, original songs expressing a vast array of emotions. 
Often appearing with Jaimee on stage is her husband, best friend and trumpet player, Leif Shires. He is the brass leader and arranger for Kelly Clarkson and has performed with artists such as Jack White, Wanda Jackson, Barry Gibb, TG Sheppard, as well as bands such as The Memphis Horns and the Latin band Salvador. 
A highly acclaimed and often nominiated artist, Jaimee has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan with audiences that include prime ministers, congressmen, military leaders, and world ambassadors. 
The 27th annual Allardt Pumpkin Festival is delighted to feature Jaimee Paul in concert.