The 2003 Mid-America Morel Mushroom Festival

Saturday & Sunday, April 19 & 20

Trail of Tears Lodge & Sports Resort

Jonesboro, Illinois

REGISTRATION

Anyone wishing to hunt mushrooms must be registered. Hunters will depart at 8:30. All hunters must return to registration by 2:00 for the hunt. Hunters may compete either or both days. However, the mushrooms found each day count for prizes on that day only. Hunters will get to keep the mushrooms they find. Registration fees are for mushroom hunting only, There are no fees to attend the festival. Confirmations will not be sent. If you need one please send a SASE with your entry.

Advance Registration by mail:…………$7.00 each day (Must be received before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 31, 2003.

Normal Registration:……………………$10.00 each day (All registrations received after March 31, 2003.

Children age 12 & Under:………………$2.00 each day.

Make check or money order payable to and mail to: Trail of Tears Lodge & Sports Resort, 1575 Fair City Road, Jonesboro, IL 62952.

You may FAX your entry by using Discover, VISA, or Master Card to: 618-833-8197.

All contestants will receive an environmentally safe mesh bag on the day of the hunt.

TROPHIES

The following trophies will be awarded each day: Men's First Place, Men's Second Place, Women's First Place, Women's Second Place, and a trophy will also be given for the largest mushroom found (combined height and girth) from both days. Weight will apply only in the event of a tie.

RULES

Contestants cannot be accompanied in the woods by non-contestants. Anyone observed pooling mushrooms or getting unauthorized help in any manner will be disqualified by the hunt officials and will forfeit their mushrooms. Other complaints may be submitted to the hunt officials for settlement.

Only morel mushrooms will be eligible during the contest. Mushrooms must be torn or cut above ground level. Any mushrooms showing signs of "root" damage shall be disqualified. Mushrooms must be submitted in the furnished mesh bag - plastic or paper bags are not allowed. Baskets may be used. Mushrooms must be left in the hunt official’s custody until the winner is announced.

If any contestant does not agree with the official count of their mushrooms, they must request to the hunt officials for a recount before the mushrooms are removed from the custody of the hunt officials. Any count of mushrooms done without the supervision of the hunt officials will not be considered valid.

All bags of mushrooms will be available for the contestants to pick up after the winners are announced. It is the responsibility of the contestants to pick up their own mushrooms. The hunt officials will not be responsible for bags of mushrooms left after the winners are announced. Additional rules may be announced at registration.

MUSHROOM AUCTION

Mushrooms submitted for auction do not necessarily have to come from the Festival hunt. If you gathered them prior to the hunt and they are still fresh, they may be submitted for auction. PLEASE DO NOT WASH OR SOAK THEM! Package them in half-pound plastic bags (A perforated vegetable bag works best. DO NOT SEAL THE BAG! All mushrooms will be inspected prior to sale. MORELS ONLY, no elephant ears, red ear, beefsteak, etc. Half-free morels are permitted. The festival sponsors will collect $1.00 per bag sold from the seller. Please submit mushrooms for auction at the registration table as soon as you arrive. Don't let them spoil in your car! Sellers must be present when their mushrooms are sold and will collect the money from the buyer. Mushrooms will be presented for sale in the order they arrive with the exception that a seller may sell a maximum of 8 packages when it is his/her turn at which time, if the seller has more mushrooms to sell, he/she will move to the end of the rotation.

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