A total of 697 people from 15 states and Canada competed for the title. The competitors ranged in age from 3 to 83 years old. The winners were: Grand Champion: Randy Dedecker, East Moline, IL - 117 mushrooms. Women's First Place: Sheila Holmes, Villa Grove, IL - 116 mushrooms. Men's First Place: Phil Wright, Decatur, IL - 85 mushrooms. Men's Second Place: Don Davis, Pittsfield, PA - 82 mushrooms. Women's Second Place: Sara Haynes, Morris, IL - 60 mushrooms. Largest Mushroom: Randy Dedecker - 6" tall + 6" circumference = 12 ". Smallest Mushroom: Shelia Holmes - 1/2" tall + 1/8" circumference = 5/8".
Our event in 2002 with 697 entrants was the largest gathering of mushroom hunters anywhere- ever. We contacted the Guiness Book, but they don't monitor mushroom hunters.A total of 697 people from 15 states and Canada competed for the title. The competitors ranged in age from 3 to 83 years old.