There were a lot of cracked eggs after the annual Peters Hollow Easter Egg Fight Sunday, and today there are a lot of pickled eggs.
This year’s winner, Jerry Peters, gave his cracked eggs to his son and grandchildren. “I had five eggs left out of six dozen,” said Peters, who outlasted his granddaughter, Joy Henry, to win his eighth title. “I didn’t think I was going to win it, because everyone has hard eggs now.”
Peters said more and more of the serious competitors have their own chickens, from which they get their eggs. “It gets harder and harder every year. You’re lucky if you can win two years in a row,” he added
Peters said he was glad to win, but sort of hated that it was his granddaughter he beat for the title. “She came in fourth last year and second this year. Her time will come,” he said.
Carson Peters, the fiddler and grandson of Norman Peters, won the junior division. “He had four eggs left out of two dozen,” Jerry said.
Peters said he gave his son, Jeff, three dozen of his cracked eggs to make into pickled eggs. “He makes good pickled eggs. He uses pickle beets, some red onion, sugar, vinegar and pickle juice. You have to let them set for four or five days before they get really good. I like them, too,” Jerry said.
Peters is already planning his strategy to capture a ninth title next year. “I plan to get a half dozen new hens in the next few weeks, hoping they will lay some hard eggs. I’ll give some of my old hens away,” he said.
This year’s crowd was estimated at about 200. “We have a lot of people who come and go. The more serious fighters come to stay all afternoon,” Peters said.
“We were blessed with good weather and a lot of family and good friends. It’s friendly competition and spending the day with family and friends. That’s what matters,” said Peters.