Cedar Key Aquaculture Association announces the event is "in the black" in its third year. The Cedar Key Aquaculture Association held its 3rd annual CLAMERICA Celebration this 4th of July. Despite the heat, the festival ran smoothly from the opening activities – procession led by the Cedar Key Fire Department, and flag raising ceremony and pledge of allegiance performed by the Tri-County Marine Corps - until the end of ticket sales at 6 PM.
The purpose of the festival is to showcase the town of Cedar Key and celebrate our clam industry as being a leading producer of farm-raised clams in the nation. The Association feels it achieved its goal again. Even though our nation's birthday fell on a Tuesday, it was estimated that the crowds were larger than last year. There was a 50% increase in ticket sales from last year. Also, vendors reported a considerable improvement in food sales. This was in part due to the increased advertising effort not only locally but regionally. Grant funds acquired through the Levy County Tourist Develop-ment Council were used for these purposes. CRA funds from the City of Cedar Key were used to add to the festive decorations seen around town.
The Celebration is coordinated by a committee of volunteers from the Association (Rick Viele and Rose Cantwell who co-chaired the event, as well as Sue Colson and Leslie Sturmer. In preparing for the third Celebration, the Association spent around $6000 and doubled its advertising budget. Other expenses included entertainment (Anna White oversaw a diverse music venue), prizes for the Clamania Events (everyone got one), decorations (red, white and blue was everywhere), etc. A 10% fee was deducted from each food vendor's sales to help defray these expenses and assist in making a donation to a local organization (last year it was the Marine Science Class). For the first time, the Association went "in the black" on this event.
There were more activities to participate in this year – each going off without a hitch. The morning opening procession continued to attract participants with visiting bikers tagging along to the City Park. Later in the day, another parade consisted of decorated golf carts with over a dozen entries. Prizes were awarded to the top three most festive carts – 1st place went to Jimmy and Cyndi Wells, again, for their portrayal of Uncle Sam and the Statute of Liberty, 2nd Place went to the Smith's for their Keep Kids off Drugs Suzuki, and 3rd place went to Bill Watford and the Schleedes.
Again this year a feature activity was the Cultured Clam Cook-off. With 14 entries, the judges, Peter Stefani from the Island Room, Stanley Bair from the Island Hotel and Ramsey Parham from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, awarded 1st place to Sue Colson and Chris Taiani for their clam sushi-anchor hole roll, 2nd place to Lori Schleede for her clams relleno, and 3rd place to Linda Seyfert for her clam pizza. Honorable mentions went to Pat Dees for her spicy clams with lemon butter and her clams with angel hair pasta, Sue Viertel for her clam pasta, and Julie Norton for her clams diablo.
The highlight of this event was the sampling of entries after judging by the crowd. Children activities included those that were popular from previous years – the clam harvest, clam raceways, clam bag races, greased lease pole – and a few new activities – sand and shell sculpturing and chuck-a-mullet throw. The Cedar Key Marine Science Class provided expert knowledge and assistance at the clam farming educational booth (thanks to Jaclyn, Rose and Alex). Also a prize went to the most decorated food booth – the Cedar Key Woman's Club. The secret of success in any community event is volunteers. The Association wants to recognize the following local businesses and individuals who donated prizes and contributed time to this years' Celebration – Annie's Café, Atlantic Gulf Littleneck, B&E Seafood, Big 'T' Clam Farm, Blue Bayou, Blue Desert Café, Cactus Rose, Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms and farmers, Cedar Key Canvas Shop, Cedar Key Gulf Kart, Cedar Key Market, Cedar Key Marine Science Club, Cedar Key News, Cedar Key Pizza, Cedar Key Oyster and Clam Company, Cedar Key Seafood Distributors, Cedar Shoals, Chiefland Golf Club, City of Cedar Key, Clamalot Farm and Colson family, Cooke's Seafood, Dakotah Winery, Deep Sea John Charters, Dog Island Blues Company and farmers, Drummond Community Bank, Edgewater Café, Feigens, FishBonz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing, Florida Sea Grant, Brad Gaddis, Caely Hibbits, Hodges Seafood, Joan Horn, the Hunts, Island Hotel, Island Jiffy, Island Bags, The Island Room, Kayak Cedar Keys, Ada Lang, Levy County Tourist Development Council, Marina Hardware, Sarah Miller, Nature Coast Reality, Park Place Condominiums, Jennie Pinto, Quality Shellfish, Robinson Seafood, Sea Breeze Restaurant, Seafarm Seafood, Seahorse Landings Condominiums, Silver Dollar Clams, Soggy Bottom Clam Company, Southern Belle Clam Bags, Southern Cross Farms, Tony's Seafood Restaurant, Tina Roberts, Kathleen Tuck, and UF/IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension.
There certainly were many more that just pitched in and helped. If we have forgotten to include you above, please do not think it went unnoticed. A special thank you also goes to the community organizations that provided clams in a variety of ways and landlubber's fare as well. |
