Veggie Race Guidelines
Veggie Races are scheduled for: 10:00 – 10:20 a.m., 11:00 – 11:20 a.m., 12:00 – 12:20 p.m., 1:00 – 1:20 p.m., 2:00 – 2:20 p.m., 3:00 - 3:20 p.m., and 4:00 – 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday the last veggie race will begin at 3:00 p.m.
Anyone using the microphone uses a loud, clear, expressive, exciting, and friendly voice….no soft-spoken, boring speakers!
About 10 minutes before the next veggie race, the announcer should make an announcement on the portable PA system in the Veggie Race/Mop Pony canopy reminding everyone of the upcoming race time. Wheels should be left on the veggie cars at all times. During the 10 - 15 minutes before the next race participants should decorate their basic veggie car---probably a zucchini, cucumber, or potato---with extra veggies or pieces of veggies that may be attached with toothpicks. Remind participants that their vehicle will get stuck on the track if it is too wide. There will be one or two tables set-up for participants to decorate their veggie cars.
To run the race you need an announcer, a gatekeeper to run the gate at the top of the veggie race board, and a judge to determine the winner/s at the bottom of the veggie race board.
Before the race begins, each participant choosesa “participation” animal sticker to put on his/her shirt once he/she has finished decorating his/her car.
There are 12 sets of wheels, which means there can be 12 available veggie cars. KEEP TRACK OF THE WHEELS/AXLES/HARDWARE AT ALL TIMES SO WE DON’T LOSE ANY PIECES. The veggie race board has only six lanes so no more than six cars may race at any time. You are encouraged to haveeach veggie car do one “practice run” before the official race “heat” begins. Before the practice run participants will draw one number card from a set of upside down cards that are numbered one to six; this determines which lane each car will use for its practice run.
Try to run two or more heats of two – six cars for each race time. Before each heat, participants draw a number card to determine the lane their car will race in. Winners of each heat will race against each other in the championship heat. Before the championship heat participants draw a number card to determine the lane their car will race in. The winner of the championship heat receives an AgRisk squishy cow. Kids may race more at different times throughout the day.
After each race take the extra decorative veggies off each basic veggie car---but remember to leave the wheels/axles/hardware on each vehicle. Try to keep veggies in the shade so they don’t dry out. Add fresh decorative veggies as needed throughout the day. Be sure there are plenty of toothpicks available to attach veggie decorations. Clean-up the building/decorating table throughout the day so it always looks neat/organized/inviting.
You will need three people to run each heat of the race. An announcer will introduce each race’s participants as they hold their veggie cars before the cars are placed on the track. Make a big deal out of introducing race participants. Hold the microphone up to each participant’s mouth and ask them to state their whole name, age, and where they are from. If the kids can’t be heard, the announcer will have to introduce everyone clearly and loudly---include their complete names, ages, and home town.
After introductions, participants draw their lane card and place their cars in the correct lane at the top of the veggie board. Then all participants go and stand at the bottom of the veggie board. Any participant touching the veggie race board during the race will be disqualified. Be sure the announcer makes this clear.
The announcer says, “On your mark, get set, go!” and then the gate keeper releases the gate at the top of the veggie board and the race begins.
The judge sits/stands at the bottom of the veggie race board where he/she can easily see all the lanes at the same time. The judge determines which participant reaches the finish line first. THE JUDGE’S DECISION IS FINAL! If there is a tie, the two tied vehicles will race again, with each participant drawing a new lane card for the tie-breaker race. Continue the tie breaker races as needed.
Remember, the championship heat features winners of the earlier heats.
After the final heat, the announcer congratulates/thanks all racers and announces the winner of the championship heat and presents the winner with his/her squishy cow prize. Then the announcer reminds everyone of the next race time and that participants need to do their veggie vehicle decorating BEFORE the actual race time.
Keep a close and careful eye on the portable PA system and microphone at all times!