Pepper Fest 2022 Highlights
/Thank You!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the individuals, participants, attendees, volunteers, working groups, vendors and sponsors for your generous support of Pepper Fest 2022!
Scroll to see the highlights and the competition winners from all of the 2022 Pepper Fest events!
1st Annual Yard Decorating Contest
We LOVED seeing so many yards showing their Pepper Fest Pride!
Congratulations 2022 Yard Decorating Contest Winners, Mary Jo & Denny Langer!
2022 Pepper Fest Medallion Hunt (sponsored by Exit 1 Fireworks)
Congratulations Brian & Caidence Henderlong, the 2022 Pepper Fest Medallion Hunt Winners!
The 2022 Medallion was located on public property at Brown’s Beach in North Hudson. It was between the limbs of a fallen tree in the wooded area off the Beach. The Medallion was wrapped in black plastic and hidden between tree bark. A small pepper was visible on the tree bark.
Beer Garden (sponsored by Tire Pro’s & Wheel Experts)
Microbrew + Wine Tasting Competition (sponsored by Starr’s Bar)
Microbrew Competition Winners:
People’s Choice: Hop & Barrel Brewing
Judge’s Choice: Brickfield Brewing
Wine Competition Winners:
Red Wine People’s Choice: Fowler Wine
Red Wine Judge’s Choice: Fowler Wine
White Wine People’s Choice: Fowler Wine
White Wine Judge’s Choice: Chateau St. Croix Winery
Bingo! (sponsored by First State Bank and Trust)
Friday Night Band: 8 Foot 4 (sponsored by MidWestOne Bank)
2022 Pepper Fest Grand Parade
Grand Marshal: Amanda Peterson
The parade was lead by 2022 Grand Marshal Amanda Peterson. Amanda (Spainhour) Peterson was a 2000 Pepper Fest Princess. She resides in Hudson with her husband Collin, daughter Sammy, and son Lewie. She became a nurse in 2006, an ICU nurse in 2008 and most recently, she earned a master’s degree to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She is the creator behind the site, thisnursemom.com, where she hilariously, yet poignantly, chronicles her experiences as a nurse and mother. Last but not least, she is the author of the book entitled, Everybody Just Breathe: a COVID Nurse Memoir of Stamina and Swear Words. As the title of her book alludes, in March 2020, Amanda went beyond the call of duty by volunteering to work in the COVID ICU. Pepper Fest is proud to honor Amanda, and all health-care workers, for their enduring dedication to patient care and countless heroic sacrifices for the community in the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Good Neighbors: The Monical Family
Paula Monical and her seven children: Christopher (Lindsay), Natalie (Bravo), Michael (Miriam), Amanda, Erica (Josh), Nick, and Kelsey were this year’s Good Neighbors! For many years, you’ve found the family manning the food tent and prep while at times covering up to 30 shifts throughout the weekend! This family exemplifies volunteerism and being good neighbors. Festivals don’t run themselves, and the Monicals are a big part of our success! We’re grateful for their service over the years.
Parade Awards
King Award: Cottage Grove Strawberry Fest
Queen Award: Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Ambassadors
Pepper Award: North Hudson Kwik Trip
Inflatables & Games
Dunk Tank (sponsored by CBD Hudson)
Royalty Spaghetti Eating Contest
Congratulations 2020/2021 North Hudson Pepper Fest Royalty, the 2022 Royalty Spaghetti Eating Champs!
Championship Eating Contest Winners (sponsored by The Village Inn Bar & Grill)
Spaghetti: 2019 Royalty Family (4th Time Champs) - Lisa, Carly, Rich, Ryan and Joy with a team time of 10 minutes 25 seconds.
Hot Peppers:
Bean Bag Tournament (sponsored by Kozy Korner)
Saturday Night Band: FlashMob! (sponsored by Hudson Ford)
Pepper Fest Annual Foot Races
(sponsored by ADR - Absolute Dent Repair, Arrow Building Center, Derrick Custom Homes, Leverty Financial Group, Moore Imprints, Tech Neeck’s Auto Service and WESTconsin Credit Union)
5K Top Male: Brett Ramstad with a time of 00:22:59
5K Top Female: Michelle Ritten with a time of 00:22:19
10K Top Male: Erik Hall with a time of 00:48:45
10K Top Female: Aubrey Poling with a time of 00:50:57
5K Top Finishers
10K Top Finishers
The Dahlen’s flew in from Plattsburgh, New York to participate in the 2022 Pepper Fest Foot Races! It checked the “Wisconsin” box in their quest to complete a Foot Race in all 50 States.
For each race completed, the Dahlen’s create a race medal and frame it along with their race bib numbers to proudly hang in their garage.
Pancake Breakfast (sponsored by Royal Credit Union)
The Pancake Breakfast is free will donation with proceeds benefitting the Hudson Area Senior Citizens Center.
Pepper Fest Market (Craft & Vendor Show)
17 Vendors joined us at this year’s Pepper Fest Market! Mark your calendar for the 2023 Pepper Fest Market so you can get your hands on some of their one-of-a-kind items! The Pepper Fest Market is Sunday, August 20th from 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Kids Mini Medallion Hunt (sponsored by Royal Credit Union)
Kids Tractor Pull (sponsored by Hiawatha National Bank)
Cooking Competition (sponsored by Renewal By Andersen)
Anthony Gilbert from Melt Pizza took the honors as Pepper Fest’s 2022 Top Chef! He competed with Leigh Halvorsen from the Village Inn and Kory Nelson from Guv’s Place as they “Pepped up the Pepper Fest Sauce”. Each chef was given Pepper Fest sauce, a choice of meat and they chose additional items from the Pepper Fest Marketplace, peppers were required. They were given 25 minutes to put something together to wow the judges.
Beer Garden Entertainment (sponsored by Barkers Bar & Grill, San Pedro Cafe and Pedro’s del Este)
2022 Pepper Fest VIP
Sara Sofie was the 2022 Pepper Fest VIP! She received a designated parking spot, a VIP tent and table in the Beer Garden, two pitchers of beer, dinner for two and Pepper Fest swag!
2023 Royalty
King Scott Hendrix & Queen Ava Prissel
Princesses Ava Edin, Josie Hedin & Adeline Mitchell
Sunday Night Band: Firewater Gospel Choir (sponsored by Onsite Apparel)
Join us next August 18 - 19 - 20 for Pepper Fest 2023!
Congratulations 2023 Button Design Winner, Theresa Quedenfeld!
