Frog jumping an avenue for tourism

In California, frog jumping is serious business.

At least that's the case with organizers of the Calaveras County Fair and the local boosters club in Angels Camp, Calif.

So much so, that the two groups are hopping mad at each other.

Citing losses due to low turnout at last year's fair, organizers said they couldn't pay the Angels Camp Boosters Club to oversee this year's frog-jumping contest. The club has judged the famed Jumping Frog Jubilee since its inception in 1928.

Organizers invited boosters to judge this year's contest without pay, but the club decided to organize its own jumping-frog contest, according to the Associated Press.

You can't blame them for wanting to cash in on frog hopping.

The Calaveras County Fair, scheduled for May 16 to 20 this year, was inspired by Mark Twain's celebrated jumping-frog tale in which one person cheats by secretly filling his opponent's frog with buckshot.

Thousands of people typically attend the five-day fair. The fair culminates in competition featuring frogs from across the country. With such competition, it's amazing ESPN doesn't cover it.

Don't equate this with a turtle race. There's real prize money to be won at the frog competition.

Winning frog owners get a $750 prize or $5,000 if their frog breaks the 1986 record of 21 feet, 5 3/4 inches set by Rosie the Ribeter.

Mark Twain would be amused that his literary work spawned a whole frog-jumping industry and ultimately dueling frog-jumping contests.

The first frogs showed up about 180 million years ago, long before they became prized for their jumping ability and Twain made them famous.

No doubt, frogs accompanied Lewis and Clark on their historic journey. But, of course, no one bothered to recount their insect-eating exploits. Maybe the animators at Disney could rectify this injustice.

Meanwhile, a little controversy surrounding the Jumping Frog Jubilee could focus public attention on frog tourism.

Cape Girardeau might want to cash in on frog jumping, too. Our local tourism office might want to organize a downtown frog-jumping contest. Perhaps we should add frogs to our floodwall mural. And we could organize our own frog-jumping booster club, not to be mistaken with the Southeast Missouri State University Boosters Club.

After all, why should the good folks in California have a monopoly on frog jumping just because Mark Twain set his story in that locale.

This could rival the downtown golf course proposal in terms of its impact on Cape Girar-deau tourism.

The frogs would like it, too. They'd get a proclamation from our fine mayor and the huge thanks of an appreciative community. What more can a self-respecting amphibian expect.

The city could build riverfront condos for the frogs, further enhancing economic development.

That would put them within hopping distance of the River Campus and provide the frogs with a wide assortment of entertainment options.

The possibilities could leave us all bug eyed with excitement.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.