Latest / Johnny's World / The Weenie Dog's Are Back

Transcript

The Weenie Dog's Are Back · Johnny's World

• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, welcome back to a brand new edition of the Johnny's World Podcast.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: It's Johnny here.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: My co-host BW is uh is out today.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_01: He's uh checking people's eyeballs at the clinic.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: So it's me doing the uh interview solo today.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: But uh welcome back.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: And uh springtime is here on campus, and we only got a few more weeks of school left, and uh we've got a huge weekend coming up.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Super Bowl weekend, as everyone knows who uh is familiar with Mississippi State.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: That's the biggest weekend in the in the spring semester where we have our um everyone comes into town for uh for baseball games, but we got a special event this super bowl weekend.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: It'll be the third annual start for Starkwell Derby in the cotton district, and uh it is a raving success.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: The past two years have been amazing.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_01: So um on this episode, we have the founder of the Startwill Derby on here to tell us a little bit about this year, what to expect from this year's derby and all the details on it we've had in the past couple years, so uh, and every year keeps getting bet bigger and better.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: So, Audin Thornhill, welcome back to Johnny's World Podcast.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, John Clark, thank you for having me on.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: You know, like you said, this thing keeps growing and growing.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Last year we won Mississippi Tourism Association's best large festival.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we won Mississippi Main Street best or most outstanding creative, large creative event.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, we've uh we've just steadily keep growing and growing.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: We get about four million social media impressions uh in the lead up to the race, and we have like people coming from all across the country, California, Rhode Island, Maine, uh all over uh this great nation to send upon Startville to watch these dogs run.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: But it's more than just a dog race.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: We've got about 140 food and art vendors.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we've got the Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile, we've got a giant kid zone with pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, and uh, of course, um um all our action on the track and then flyovers uh performed beforehand and and a frisbee dog halftime show.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: So it's you know, it's so much stuff going on at this event, um, more than just a dog race.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, it it it's it's all it's it's amazing how much it's spread, and it's a testament to you know the folks around here and and people like you that help us spread the word on it.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: So thank you.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, man.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: We're happy to spread the word.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: More people the better.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, like you said, you got people from all around the country and then all around the world uh tuning in.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um you are having a live stream, isn't that right?
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: Didn't I see that somewhere?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: So we have a live stream.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: It is um it is on YouTube, it's full HD, Brian Hayedad, Bow Bounds, Bart Hych on the call.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: And they will um, you know, that's it's gonna be a uh it's in full HD, it's on MSUT Center, and it's gonna be uh truly a special event.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we got a bunch of different camera angles and uh some other fun stuff to go along with it.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: So the uh you know it's gonna be a tailwag and good time whether you're there or or or or whether you're in person or whether you're uh watching online.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_01: So uh for all the listeners out there, Alden, that might not not have listened to this podcast the past two years and you give them out the info.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: If this is their first year coming, where do you suggest them to park?
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: Time to get there, what what what do you what do you suggest?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so um I would suggest that they show up at about eight o'clock to our parking lots at Barnes and Noble and MSU or any of those non-athletic lots around there, or at the Mill and MSU, we'll be having shuttles run that will pick people up, drop them off at our festival gates.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, all of the pre-race festivities will really start at about 9.50.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna want to be there for um all of that fun, uh, fun stuff, like our call to post, our national anthem, uh, and the blessing of the track by Father Tristan from St.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: Joseph.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: So um, you know, it festival grounds will open at 8:30.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Our vendors will open at 8:30.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, come out, do a little bit of shopping, then go grab you a drink and get ready to watch some racing.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh the racing, uh, talk about that different categories.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_01: I know uh from the different ages.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_01: Is that how that works?
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_01: Do y'all y'all still do the pretenders?
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: I remember y'all had a pretenders race.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we still do the pretenders race.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: So the pretenders, um, you know, they will um they wear hot dog outfits, they get to run, you know, at the puppies, we do senior adult and uh uh puppy and special needs.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just a really good time for everybody.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and what time uh what time does it does it conclude?
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh it'll probably close up at about three o'clock.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: So three o'clock.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: That'll be perfect.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: People can walk over to the dude from the yeah, and it might even end a little bit earlier.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: It might end right at um, you know, right at three, right at uh, you know, right at like two.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: So it might well, it just it just g it just kind of ebbs and flows.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: You know, the good thing about this is you know, usually we have the spring game, football game, super bowl all weekend.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: So we had that before.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_01: So there's no excuse people not to be on University Drive in the cotton district for the Derby this year because uh usually we have stuff going on.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: This is this is the event to be at, and then you can go to baseball right afterwards.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: So uh, so if you're coming into town, definitely be or just come in town for this because it's uh like Alden says, a tail wagon, good time.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: That is absolutely what it is.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh man, we thank you so much.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you're making such a big impact on the community.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Now talk a bit about uh we're we're doing all this stuff, a lot of fun, having the races, but the best part about it, it goes to a local uh humane society.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_01: Talk about that.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: Correct.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: All the funds raised from this go to IT Haw County Humane Society.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, they have a great, great mission, great work helping these pets uh find permanent homes and helping them uh you know, even more so now with our Snippin's Bay clinic that actually offers low-cost vaccinations and uh and uh and spay and neutering uh uh you know services to folks.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, uh it it it they do a lot in the community.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: It's a great nonprofit, so we're always happy to partner with them and provide them with um, you know, provide them with some help.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, indeed.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: And uh talking about the uh the theme.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_01: I know each year you've had a theme.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: Well, what is it this year?
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's Grateful Wien's.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: It's uh it's celebration of the um of the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: So uh yeah, that's what we go out with.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Next year we'll have an even better we'll have an even better uh even better theme.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: So um I love it.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll announce that right afterward, though.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you know, you and me we both we both are fans of the dead, so that's uh that's a good thing.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: That's a good thing.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: I like I like that.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_01: I love the shirts too.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Matter of fact, I wore my I wore my you saw me at the arts festival, me and my dog.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we we won uh look-alite contest with our.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I saw that.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate y'all representing.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: So we're we're giving a shout out, representing before, trying to get people to come to it.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_01: So so uh we're uh we're we're all so excited, Alden.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: It's gonna be uh I haven't looked at the weather forecast.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: Or is it are we expecting good weather or do you know?
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: No, we should.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's looking like it's gonna be kind of a more like 75 degree day.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: So that's it.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: So that's great.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: I know the past couple years we we've looked out, it's been it's been great weather.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: So um just awesome.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: And and and it's on the is I guess the Kentucky Derby's the same day, right?
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: So it's the the Derby day all around, I guess.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Starfle Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, great day for racing.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_01: Great day for racing.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: And and Alden, I know you got a big uh big week too.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh uh, you're expecting a little one here soon, aren't you?
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, yes.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: My wife's due May 8th.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: So we are very I have a very great partner in all this and uh very lucky to have her uh you know dealing with all this craziness.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Uh she, you know, I wouldn't I wouldn't do it with anybody else.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I I I just greatly appreciate uh my awesome wife.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: And if you guys sick kid, go see her at Starville Pediatric Clinic.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: Well I know you are a busy man getting ready for this and then and a little one on the way, so I won't keep you long, but I just wanted to get you back on here.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's a little tradition we have three years in a row.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: We've got to keep it up.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh keep coming back on and and we'll keep promoting it and getting it bigger and better every year.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_01: So uh good luck for uh for uh for a successful event and raise a lot of money for the Humane Society, and and we'll see you out there on Saturday.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome, appreciate you, man.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: Y'all have a good one.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Come on out uh Saturday.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see you there.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: All right, all the money.