On Milkshake Contests

We Clarks often pretend to know a lot about things that don't really matter.  This blog is a reflection of that.  But it's best to not trifle with us on the subject of milkshakes. Take even more care if you want to talk about milkshake making contests.

I've offered up many of the details elsewhere, but as we near the 11th Annual Clark Family Milkshake Making Contest at end of the month, I feel like ruminating on and/or revisting a few highlights:

• The contest now enters its 13th year (11th actual contest). And it'll be the first contest since 2009 that we will all be together. What began as a simple post-mission effort to bond with family (and imbibe milkshakes) has evolved into an elaborate, creative, and often heated contest for the top prize. In other words, the days of the simple vanilla or chocolate shake are long gone.

How did it come to this?

• As the picture above indicates, Bryan took home the top prize last year (with "Orange Dreamsicle").  And he's obviously grown very fond of the trophy.  In fact, there are more than rumors that he's been carrying it around the BYU campus muttering, in a hissy voice, "my own. . .my. . .presshhious." 

• Of course, that's happened before:

Michelle and The Precious, circa 2007

• And then there was this back in 2005:

• With a record number of participants expected this year, we're now opting for a three judge format.*  It's doubtful the contest has ever been more anticipated, and it's almost certainly never been more competitive.  Planning among contestants for the next contest's entry often begins shortly after the last one ends as ideas are bandied about, embraced, rejected, and embraced again (all outside the earshot of the judges).  Hence, my family is holding a practice session tomorrow night for family home evening to test out our ideas.

May the best milkshake win (as long as it means the trophy returns to San Diego)!

* As one might imagine, being a judge is initially a great honor. . .until the contest is over.  A milkshake judge has to be prepared to engender controversy (whether or not it's warranted) and, for better or worse, be ready to be an object of scorn and ridicule for the hours, days, and weeks following the contest.  Indeed, some of us are still better at the 2005 milkshake contest judges for failing to address a certain contestant's use of illegal ice cream.