The ramp eating contest at the inaugural Shortline Ramp?Festival ended up being a tie! Matt Coen and Charity Cogar both ate 17 raw ramps in 60 seconds. So the two competed again. During the second go around they each ate 10 ramps. At that point neither relished the idea of downing any more of the notably stinky wild vegetables. Coen conceded to Cogar, particularly since it was the first time she had eaten ramps.

The festival was a great success despite some rather cool and windy, yet sunny, weather. Some of the attendees even travelled notable distances to taste the pungent concoctions. For more photos and information, including the cook-off winners, see page 10A in this week’s print edition.