FELLSMERE — Several hundred airboat enthusiasts descended on the park at Fellsmere City Hall over the weekend to ogle airboats, sample swamp cabbage and browse items they might want to take home with them.
“I want that one,” said almost-10-year-old Brody Vance, pointing to a vibrantly painted yellow airboat. His dad, Steve, laughed.
The Vance family, with young friend Jessica Griffin, came out to the Indian River Airboat Association’s annual Airboat Show and Swap Meet because they wanted to enjoy the fresh air and see the boats.
“We’re having a good time,” Steve Vance said, adding that they had hoped they’d get to see the airboats in action.
Brody’s twin sister Brighton said she was having fun, too, though, “I’m sweating to death!”
This was the first time in four years the association has held its show and swap meet at the Fellsmere City Hall complex.
Before, the event would be held at the Fellsmere Riding Club.
“This is a lot better,” Airboat Association President Danny Emmons said of holding the event in downtown Fellsmere along County Road 512. He said that so long as the Fellsmere City Council continues to approve the event, they plan to hold it outside the Old Fellsmere School.
“Moving always scares people,” Emmons said, but the number of visitors, vendors and participants didn’t appear to suffer for the change.
This was also the first time in four years that the event was paid for before it even started, according to Emmons.
Through the hard work of Airboat Association members to find sponsors and the generosity of area businesses, enough sponsorships were found to cover the organization’s costs, Emmons said.
Part of the festivities associated with the Airboat Show and Swap Meet included a Swamp Cabbage Cook-off.
With just one contestant, Scott and Tina Vickers went home with the first place prize.
“Official” taste-tester County Commissioner Wesley Davis sampled the swamp cabbage prior to announcing his judgment.
“It can be bitter,” Davis said, explaining that if it isn’t cut just right – if it’s too long a cut – it can ruin the whole pot. “It can get mushy.
“This is firm, but not crisp,” Davis added, all the while the Vickers stood by. “They cut it right. It’s very good.”
Scott Vickers declined to share how he goes about making his swamp cabbage, citing a long-held family tradition and recipe. Not even his wife knows exactly how to make it.
“I probably couldn’t make it the way he does it,” Tina said. “Nothing’s measured.”
For first time competitors for swamp cabbage, the Vickers had hoped for a little competition in the cook-off but were satisfied with their first place finish.
The annual airboat show serves as a way to raise awareness and draw interested in airboating, according to member Jay Davie.
“We’re getting bigger and bigger every year,” he said. “It’s basically a meet-and-greet” – a place for enthusiasts to get together, hang out and have fun.
The Indian River Airboat Association wishes to thank the following businesses for sponsoring the event:
Gold Sponsors –
- RE/Max Crown Realty
- Jeff Wilson Masonry
Silver Sponsors –
- Florida Cracker Airboat Rides
- Roberts Construction
- Smalleys Landscape
- Sawgrass Welding
- Sommer Outdoors
Airboat Trophy Sponsors
Class 6 Cylinder
- 1st place Airboating Magazine
- 2nd place Complete Electric
Class 4 Cylinder
- 1st place Re/Max Crown Realty
- 2nd place Justin Smalley Landscape
Class Car Motor
- 1st place Indian River All Fab, Inc
- 2nd place Fire House Garage
Class Hunt Boat
- 1st place Sommer Outdoors
- 2nd place Sportsman Specialties
Class Race Boat
- 1st place Mark’s Painting
- 2nd place East Coast Tile
Class GPU
- 1st place Southern Airboat
- 2nd place Florida Airboat Association
Class Ugly Boat
- 1st place IR Co Airboat Association
- 2nd place Ray Mckinney Plastering
People’s Choice: Indian River County Airboat Association
Swamp Cabbage Trophy Sponsors
- 1st place Marsh Landing
- 2nd Place Mike Hearndon
- 3rd place All Suncoast Electric