By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com
CORDELE — It’s almost Watermelon Festival time in Cordele and in keeping with tradition of years past, the official souvenir T-shirt design winner was announced Thursday.
This year’s winner is Wendi Connell Worley, who is the former 1992 Georgia Watermelon Queen and was also first runner-up for the national title that same year.
Accompanied by her daughter, Jordan, and her son Zachary, Worley was presented with her prize of $100 and the first official T-shirt yesterday at noon.
Sponsored by Cordele Main Street and the Downtown Business Organization, the contest gives members of the local community a chance to show off their artistic abilities and also to represent Crisp County and it’s claim to fame — watermelons.
Worley’s idea uses the theme, “Enjoy A Crisp Slice of Melon,” and depicts a huge slice of watermelon on the front of each shirt. Rules also required Worley to use the words Cordele and Crisp County in her design, as well as the words “Watermelon Capital of the World.”
Main Street Director Elaine Worley said Wendi’s design was selected out several other entries — all of which were extremely creative and artistic.
“We had lots of beautiful designs submitted,” she said. “We’ve got lots of talented people in Crisp County.”
The shirts are available for purchase for $13 each and sizes range from 2-4 up to 3XL.
Worley said in addition to this year’s shirt, there are also T-shirts from past years available for purchase at a reduced cost.
“We also have many other watermelon items available for purchase at the Main Street office, as well as items that are not watermelon,” she said. “We’ll also have some of these items, as well as the T-shirts, for sale at Watermelon Park during this year’s Watermelon Festival.”
