By MELISSA BENZEL
The Herald

More than 500 babies showed up at Everts Middle School Thursday for the 2003 Pumpkin Show Baby Contest. While judges stressed that everyone was a winner, only a few babies were lucky enough to receive titles in the end.

Linda Jenné and Sarah Bucy co-chair the event, which is sponsored by the Circleville Jaycees. Both women have the help of four judges, who are from outside of Pickaway County, two have been judges in the past and two are new this year.

The judges come in and set up at 7 a.m. and the judging takes place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The winners are decided as the child is being judged.

The judges admit choosing a winner is not an easy job, but there are some guidelines each one personally follows. There is only one universal rule.

"The only guideline I have ever given them (judges) is that they're not allowed to look at any clothing, I don't think that's fair," said Jenné.

Judges said they look for babies' personalities to shine through during the judging process.

"What I'm primarily looking for is the way the kids interact with us," said 23-year veteran judge Brad Blair said.

Mark Miller, who has been a judge for 22 years, echoed Blair's comments.

"It just depends on the child's demeanor, their expression, their attentiveness. They could be the most beautiful child in here, but if they're not looking at the judge when the judge is looking you'd never know," Miller said.

"A lot of it depends whether they turn around and look at you, whether they smile, they could be crying at that time, they could be asleep. It's just a little bit different, we take it seriously , but at the same time I don't think people should be that upset if they didn't make the top three. Because their child may have been asleep or had their head turned at the time the judge was looking at them."

While it's exciting for parents whose babies win, winning is not the only reason parents enter their babies in the contest. For most it's the excitement of the parade and following tradition.

"It's just something to do. They love going for walks and just love people, so we come out for it," said Laura Crosby, mother of the winning triplets.

Many parents said it's just tradition.

"It's something all the kids have done," said Dawn Withers, mother of Allyson Withers who won the 21 through 27 month old category. "It's her last year and we just enjoy it."

For moat parents it's the parade that matters.

"We just like to take him through the parade, the judging is extra," said Dave Holbrook, father of Blaine Holbrook, who won the 28 through 35 month old category.

The following are the results of the 2003 Pumpkin Show Baby Contest:

0 to 5 months girls

First, Bailey Kasler, 4 months, daughter of Bo and Misty Kasler of Kingston; second, Kya L. Fowler, 6 months, daughter of Danielle and Steve Fowler of Kingston; and third, Ariana Marie Speakman, 4 months, daughter of Colleen Bayne and Kevin Speakman of Circleville.

0 to 5 months boys

First, Ian Wilson Shaeffer, 3 months, son of Rodney and Dawn Shaeffer of Kingston; second, Wyatt Alexander Bundock, 3 months, son of Joe and Melissa Bundock of Williamsport; and third, Ian Berger, 3 months, son of Eric and Lori Berger of Circleville.

6 to 12 months girls

First, Keyana Jade Elliott, 11 months, daughter of Justin and Ashley Elliott of Commercial Point; second, Brielle Derosette, 10 1/2 months, daughter of Bill and Dawn Derosette of Circleville; and third, Aaliah Marie Garrett, 11 months, daughter of Sherry Garrett of Circleville.

6 through 12 months boys

First, Ethan Grant Moore, 6 months, son of Sharon Moore of Circleville; second, Logan Scott, 9 months, son of Beth and Branden of Circleville; third, Collin Michael Holbrook, 10 months, son of Howard and Ellen Holbrook of Ashville.

13 through 20 months girls

First, Lauren Smith, 13 months, daughter of Keith and Kristy Smith of Circleville; second, Rylee Lynn Mapes, 17 months, daughter of Chris and Valerie Mapes of Stoutsville; second, Jillian Leach, 20 months, daughter of Matt and Heather Leach; third, Haley Alivia Evans, 19 months, daughter of Tony and Nicole Evans.

13 through 20 months boys

First, Patrick Zamble, 19 months, son of Eva and Patrick Zamble of Circleville; second,Lane Matthew, 15 months, son of Jeremy and Katie Stevens of Amanda; third, Wade Hall, 18 months, son of Bryan and Lisa Hall of Circleville.

21 through 27 months girls

Allyson Withers, 26 1/2 months, daughter of Jim and Dawn Withers of Circleville; second, Celeste Leslein, 25 months, daughter of Jerry and Evelyn Leslein; third, Kelsey Detty, 22 months, daughter of Michele Detty of Circleville.

21 through 27 months boys

Hayden Lemaster, 23 months, son of Randy and Michele Lemaster of Williamsport; second, Matthew Wood, 25 months, son of Jeremy and Sarah Wood of Circleville; third, Skylar Blaine Drum, 27 months, son of Heather Drum and Mike McCabe of Tarlton.

28 through 35 months girls

First, Alysen Grace Nunemaker, 28 months, daughter of Michael and Shannon Nunemaker of Clarksburg; second, Alexis Jo Sparks, 35 months, daughter of Ed and Amy Sparks; third, Kaylee Smith, 29 months, Christy Boltenhouse and Bryan Smith.

28 through 35 months boys

First, Blaine Holbrook, 31 months, son of David Holbrook of Stoutsville; second, Andrew (Drew) Shaw, 28 months, son of Ben and Aimee Shaw of Circleville; third, Issac Vite Torres, 35 months, son of Jenny Sigman.

Twins 0 through 35 months

First, Morgan and Megan Ebbrect, 26 months, daughters of Jeff and Tara Ebbrecht of Stoutsville; second, Amanda and Natalie Rarick, 16 months, daughters of Sheri and David Rarick of Canal Winchester; Nathaniel and Gabriel Evans, 34 months, sons of Marcie and Phillip Evans of Tarlton.

Triplets 0 through 35 months

Sarah, Matt and J.B. Crosby, 27 months, daughter and sons of Laura and Darryl Crosby of Circleville.

Decorated carriage, stroller

Paige Hinton, 17 months, daughter of Kyle and Jennifer Hinton of Circleville; Maxwell Brooks, 16 months, son of Misty Brooks of Circleville; Lane Stevens, 15 months, Jeremy and Katie Stevens of Amanda.