Skillet Toss Competition Celebrates Local Heritage at the Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival
This past Sunday, Kelsey Casoni claimed her fourth victory in the Ladies Skillet Toss, a unique event held at the Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival in Scottdale. With just two years of competitive experience, Casoni’s triumph underscores her impressive skill, especially considering her background in pitching softball for over 25 years.
At 35 years old and hailing from Hecla, Casoni has been an active participant in various softball teams throughout Westmoreland County and neighboring states, including West Virginia and Ohio. Currently, she plays in the Scottdale Women’s Softball League. Reflecting on her unexpected success at the skillet toss, she remarked, “I was told about this because I’ve been pitching for 25 years. The skillet’s heavier than a softball, but I can throw it a lot farther.” Indeed, her winning toss measured an impressive 68 feet, surpassing her established softball pitching distance of 65 feet.
@triblive Kelsey Casoni, 35, of Hecla, won first place in the women’s skillet toss on Sunday at the Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival in Scottdale. She explained how a skillet toss works #skillettoss #women #farm #news #tractor #icecream #local #westmoreland #pittsburgh #pennsylvania #triblive #firstplace #fyp #skillet ♬ original sound – TribLive
About the Ladies Skillet Toss
During the competition, participants threw skillets underhand, mimicking the technique used in softball. Organized by the Fort Allen Antique Farm Equipment Association in collaboration with West Overton Village, the skillet toss was one of many engaging activities at the festival. The concept was inspired by a popular event in the Midwest, where competitors typically use 10-inch skillets rather than the 8-inch cast iron versions seen at this event.
Festival Highlights
Allison Lape, the association’s corresponding secretary and a lifelong resident of Scottdale, expressed her enthusiasm for the festival and the skillet toss. Lape has been involved with the association since childhood and worked alongside fellow volunteers to bring the festival to life. “We want to show where we’ve come from,” she stated, highlighting the association’s mission of preserving agricultural history.
In addition to the skillet toss, festival-goers enjoyed a range of attractions, including demonstrations of homemade ice cream making. Jim Himler, who was actively involved in the process, noted that over 30 gallons of ice cream were produced during the festival. “It takes around 20-40 minutes to make one batch,” stated Himler, who has been a part of this tradition for many years. While the equipment used was relatively modern, the association has previously showcased ice cream-making techniques involving early 1900s machinery.
@triblive Watch as homemade ice cream is made at the Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival in Scottdale #icecream #vanilla #chocolate #ice #dessert #news #local #churning #pittsburgh #westmoreland #pennsylvania #farm #milk #triblive #fyp ♬ original sound – TribLive
Engaging Activities for All Ages
The Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival offered an array of engaging activities for visitors. Attendees could explore antique farm equipment displays, witness blacksmith art demonstrations, and visit the model train museum. Children participated in hands-on activities like rope making and enjoyed rides on a tractor-driven barrel train.
The festival not only celebrated local flavors and traditions but also served as a platform for community engagement and education about agricultural history, drawing in attendees both young and old.
