Cenex recently announced that the Olde Thyme Apple Festival in Versailles, Mo., is its Hometown Throwdown $100,000 grand prize winner.
“We are once again blown away by how communities have united around Hometown Throwdown. We love seeing and celebrating local communities and their festivals,” said Erin Wroge, senior director of energy marketing at CHS, Inc.
The Olde Tyme Apple Festival brings together small-town charm and festive fall spirit. Held every October, this two-day event includes a parade, a fiddler’s contest, a play with local actors, live music and, of course, plenty of apple-themed desserts. What truly makes this festival special, according to a Cenex press release, is its dedication to supporting the local community, with all proceeds funding scholarships for high school students and other local initiatives.
In addition to the grand prize winner, the Hazen Chalkfest in Hazen, N.D., will receive $20,000 for second place; Borderline Chalkfest in Wahpeton, N.D., will receive $15,000 for third place; Windmill Days in Baldwin, Wisc., will receive $10,000 for fourth place; and the 4th of July Celebration in Mapleton, Iowa, will be awarded $5,000 for fifth place. The prize money will go toward growing and enhancing these five festivals.
“We are once again blown away by how communities have united around Hometown Throwdown. We love seeing and celebrating local communities and their festivals,” said Erin Wroge, senior director of energy marketing at CHS Inc. “A huge congratulations to the Versailles Olde Tyme Apple Festival! It was amazing to see how the Versailles community rallied to help the festival rise to the top. We are looking forward to seeing how the festival continues to grow and support the Versailles community in the coming years.”
Launched in 2023, Hometown Throwdown builds on the Cenex brand’s longstanding tradition of supporting the communities it serves. With a network of locally owned and operated convenience stores in over 1,000 communities across 19 states, Cenex has invested more than $850,000 to strengthen local initiatives through grants and community giveback programs like Hometown Throwdown. These efforts have funded over 80 community projects, ranging from athletic workshops in schools to support for local food shelters to initiatives that foster community pride such as local festivals and more.
Cenex, the energy brand of CHS Inc., provides high-quality refined fuels to more than 1,000 communities in 19 states.
