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Luverne businesses that served free hot dogs at the July 14 event deemed it a resounding success.
At the 54th annual Hot Dog Night 15,000 hot dogs were served and consumed within record time, most within an hour after serving began.
Ace Hardware Manager Kevin Mick said his 500 spiral-cut hotdogs were given out in under one hour including the 20 pounds of macaroni and cheese, 24 pounds of smoked onions and 500 ice cream treats.
The record-setting distribution was echoed by other businesses as well.
“We heard from vendors that they served hot dogs faster than they ever had and ran out earlier,” said Luverne Area Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere.
“The night was packed with people even on Highway 75.”
Most of the people, however, were directed to Luverne’s Main Street where an additional block of children’s inflatables and seating had been setup. Main Street was also the location of the hot dog fine art contest, prettiest wiener dog contest and wiener dog races.
In the art contest, nine people entered.
Isley Smith and Luka Smith, both of Luverne, were awarded first and second place respectively in the 8-and-under division. In the 8-to-11-year-olds, Lauren Madison, Rushmore, was first and Kiesli Smith, address unknown, second. The over-16 division was won by Allison Schandelmeier, Andrew Prekker, second, and Evan Prekker, third. All are from Luverne.
Eighteen dachshunds competed in the beauty contest.
According to Luverne Chamber official results, the prettiest female wiener dog was “Zoey” entered by Joy Bendt of Sioux Falls. Runner-up was “Clover” entered by Lora Anker of Edgerton. The male winner was Remy owned by April Norman, Luverne, with Walter, owned by Jim and Leesa Olander of Sioux Falls as runner-up.
Eighteen dachshunds competed in the wiener dog race.
Winner was Mary Kraayenhof’s “Precious,” of Luverne, second was Scott and Teresa Berg’s “Knuckles,” of Sioux Falls, and third was “Swaggy,” entered by Shayna Trevino, Brandon.