Downtown Platte City was packed on the Fourth of July for the first-ever Fetterman’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Hundreds gathered around the Farmer’s Square in downtown Platte City just before high noon to witness the event. Children in a frenzy tried to get as close as possible while parents hovered close by with cameras.
The contest was split into two groups children and adults. Each contestant had 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs with the bun as possible. If the contest was tied at the end of 10 minutes there would be an eat-off.
Which was the case for the children’s division. At the end of 10 minutes, two kids were left who had both eaten seven hot dogs. Both looked beaten to start the one-minute eat-off but Andres Rodriguez-Moon, 13, was able to eat one and a half hotdogs to take the championship. Rodriguez-Moon looked a little woozy while trying to put down the last dog but was able to gather himself together for the win.
“I’m never going to eat another hot dog ever again,” Rodriguez-Moon said just minutes after the contest.
Andres Rodriguez-Moon, the children’s division winner, powering through his last dogs.
Rodriguez-Moon said he kept working on breathing while also taking in water to help. The champ is actually from New York and in Platte County visiting for the holidays. Rodriguez-Moon said he went to Fetterman’s the previous day and learned about the contest so there wasn’t a lot of time to prepare.
I didn’t eat breakfast and I worked out so I got a little hungry and I just came here,” Rodriguez-Moon said.
Local Platte Countian Happy Brosnahan separated himself from the field and took home the first-place prize with an effort of 14 hot dogs. Like the children’s winner he didn’t do a lot of preparation but did read a couple of stories on the internet the night before to gain some insight. Both stories told him to dip the bun in water and eat two at a time.
“I don’t know if that was a good idea or not,” Brosnahan said.
Winners Andres Rodriguez-Moon and Happy Brosnahan,
What’s even more amazing about Brosnahan’s win is the fact he doesn’t like hot dogs.
“Today I’ve eaten 14 more hotdogs than I’ve eaten in the last year, probably in the last couple of years,” Brosnahan said. “I feel full. I don’t think I’ll need to eat anymore for a while.”
Is this title something Brosnahan will brag about?
“You bet your bum,” the Champ said.
Scott Fetterman, owner of Fetterman’s and organizer of the event said there were two main reasons he wanted to start the contest. First, he was looking for another way to benefit the Platte County R-3 Treasure Chest. Fetterman said unofficially the event raised about $2,000 for the Treasure Chest.
The second reason was Fetterman wanted to bring some old-school traditions into the Fourth of July Celebration.
“I just thought it would be fun to do something with the community and bring attention to the downtown,” Fetterman said. “What better way to go back to the old traditions and old ways of things? Hot dog eating contests are one of those things we can go back to the past.”
Fetterman said his goal was to get about 25 contestants, which he achieved, and to pack the downtown.
“I hit my goal and I think this is something we can build on,” Fetterman said. “I thought it was pretty cool. We had a lot of fun doing it.”
Rodriguez-Moon won a $150 gift certificate to Fetterman’s while Brosnahan pocketed a $250 gift card.
Scott Fetterman, owner of Fetterman’s and sponsor of the challenge.