For the 43rd consecutive year, our friends at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire will host another wacky "spittacular" event on the 4th of July weekend, welcoming guests from around the world to face off in competition that has the potential to place your name into the Guinness Book of World Records under the right conditions.
The Teichman family welcomes competitors of all ages on Saturday, July 2nd for the 43rd Annual International Cherry Pit Spit at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm located at 9351 East Eureka Road in Eau Claire.
Competition was first launched in 1974 to annually mark the beginning of the tart cherry harvest in Michigan's Great Southwest. Essentially, it all boils down to the crowning of the Champion Pit Spitter who successfully spits a cherry pit the farthest on the asphalt competition court. The current reigning International Champion is Kevin Bartz of Niles, Michigan with a 2015 Championship Distance of 48-feet, 8-inches. While that was an admirable performance, it falls far short of world record of 93-feet, 6 1/2-inches set back in 2003 by the man that Bartz beat out for the title last year, Brian "Young Gun" Krause of Lansing, Michigan. Krause was the defending champion from 2014 and was edged out by 8-inches last year.
After beginning as a neighborhood get-together, the Cherry Pit Spit has grown into a truly international competition with several title holders from foreign nations over the years. The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized the event as an official competition, and it is open to all players.
Qualifying rounds will take place from 10am until noon on Saturday, July 2nd followed by a Dignitaries Division competition at 1pm. At 1:30 the youth competitions will begin with age brackets of 5-and-under, 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 12 years. The Women's Competition is next at 1:45pm followed by the Championship Spit-Off at 2pm. Qualification rounds are open to anyone of any age, and the top spitters in each category, including past champions, will compete for fame and honor.
Besides the pit spit event, there is lots of family fun on the large Tree-Mendus farm noted for it's agri-tourism prowess, as well as being a major fruit provider in the region. There will be face-painting, a chicken buffet, hot dogs, fresh apple cider, fresh backed cherry pies and, naturally, their signature cherry waffle boats. Additionally, cherries will be in season to pick right off of the trees.
Tree-Mendus is a family-oriented, agri-tourism destination attraction featuring U-Pick fruit, family recreation, and a country store on site. For more information on this year's event and the farm itself, click the link below:
