Brandon Twp.-Conner Masters has excellent taste in frog legs. However, the amphibians are not wanted for dinner, but rather for their athletic abilities.
Masters, a Lake Orion resident, won the Wojo’s Frog Jumping Contest on Saturday, Aug. 2 for at least the second time in a row, said Lisa Kemeny, Wojo’s Kids Club events planner.
Masters competed in the children’s divison, ages 14 and younger.
‘Conner always gets his frogs himself,? Kemeny said. ‘He says he trains them, but I’m not quite sure how he does it.?
About 50 kids competed in the frog jumping contest at Wojo’s Greenhouse, 2570 Oakwood Road. The participants were welcome to bring frogs caught locally, but Wojo’s provided frogs from their pond for children without home-caught jumpers.
The jumping contest is a race. A circle is drawn outside of the Wojo’s pond and four contestants race across the circle at a time. The winner of each four frog heat goes on to compete again until only one frog remains.
‘It takes at least two hours,? said Noonie Kowalski, a Wojo’s employee.
Conner was not the only Masters to taste victory on Saturday. His father, Keith Masters, won the jumping competition in the adult division with the same frog.
The prize given for the longest frog was awarded to the Masters? catch, as well. The Masters? frog was five-and-a-half inches stretched from head to toe.
‘They came prepared,? Kowalski said. ‘They trained that frog.?
The Masters won a $70 gift certificate to Toys ‘R? Us and a $50 gift certificate to Wojo’s for sweeping the competition.
Every child received a frog-related toy after each heat, Kowalski said.
Wojo’s Kids Club organizes family friendly events to connect families to nature, Kemeny said. The first Saturday of every month brings another Kids Club event, which could be an activity to do with plants and animals or a seminar about nature.
‘The Frog Days are always our most popular event,? Kowalski said. ‘Every year it gets bigger.?
Kemeny said this year the Kids Club is going to focus on projects.
‘I’m a mother of four, and the owners of Wojo’s have kids. We’re very family-oriented here,? Kemeny said.
The contest brings business to the greenhouse, too, Kowalski said.
‘We feel it’s a nice community event, above all,? the employee said.