About the Ohio Swiss Festival

The Queen is given a scholarship of $1,500 by the Ohio Swiss Festival Association. She is also gifted her sash, a crown, flowers, a trophy, and a custom-made Swiss dress in addition to a portrait. Her attendants are also given scholarships as well as a sash, crown, and flowers as well as a trophy.

They are judged based on personal interviews as well as the delivery of a “commercial” that they would share as visiting royalty to another festival or event. Judges for this contest come from other festivals who are part of Ohio Festival and Events to ensure it is fair for all contestants.

Wondering about past royals? Here is a run down of Queens from 1953 to present. Photos of each are featured at the Alpine Hills Museum located at 106 West Main Street in Sugarcreek.

A rock is tossed from the white line. How you get it there matters not. However, tall contestants seem to have an advantage. The sport, known as steinstossen is a staple at the Ohio Swiss Festival. It tests the brute strength of men and women alike as they “throw the rock” in hopes of taking home some cold hard cash thanks to sponsor Simpson Salute.

The sport was practiced among the Alpine population since prehistoric times. However, the first actual recorded match took place in Basel in the 13th century, and during the 15th century it was played in tournament formation in an event known as Schutzenfeste in the Old Swiss Confederacy.

Today, the event carries on in Sugarcreek. The rocks in question for this contest weigh in at 138 pounds for the men and 75 pounds for the women. The men’s competition was added as a part of the Ohio Swiss Festival in 1956 with the Women’s Division added in 1974. The men’s stone was found by the late Ranson Andreas in a field near Smithville owned by Loyal Hostetler. The original women’s stone was replaced with one “imported” from Indiana after being found by George Smucker. 

Sessions are held on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday nights the pit behind the Sugarcreek Fire Department, just south of the amusement rides. Daily winners (both men and women) from each session wins $50. The overall weekend winner (both men and women) wins $250 while the runner-up will get $125. The overall Garaway winner (both men and women) will receive $250. Anyone breaking the current record throws in either division will be awarded $500.

For reference, the current record of 14 feet, 6 inches for longest throw by a male is held by 1997 Garaway graduate Beaux Lenarz and was set in 2005. The women’s record is held by Roberta Collins and was set in 2002 with a throw of 12 feet, 8-1/4 inches. Over the years there have been tosses “close” but not quite close enough to touch the record.

The Ohio Swiss Festival remains thankful to the men and women who are part of Sugarcreek Fire and Rescue who lend of their time to help coordinate the event. 

Past Winners: