Valley City to host its 61st annual frog jump

LIVERPOOL TWP. — People from all over visit Valley City, the frog jumping capital of Ohio, to participate in the annual frog jump competition. The frog jump started in 1962 when residents were trying to plan what to do for the Liverpool Township's 150th annual celebration, Marketing Director for the Valley City Community Group Linda Garrett said. The group was inspired by Mark Twain's short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and decided to have a frog jump of its own. They wanted to have an event for children to be able to participate in. "It is a family fun event where people have come for generations, Garrett said. "We've even had international people come from all over the world to this event." The Valley City Community Group will be hosting this year's Valley City Frog Jump on July 24. There are 37 rounds with about 20 frogs participating each time, meaning approximately 750 frogs will jump throughout the day, she said. A World War II parachute is laid on the ground and frogs start in the green circle. Contestants then put the frog down and have a short amount of time to get the frog to jump, or they are disqualified. Judges then measure the spot of the frog's third jump from the center of the green circle to determine the length. The longest jumper wins the round. The winners of each jump then participate in a final round against each other with the same rules. Garrett said the winner of the last round gets a large trophy and bragging rights. "You potentially could have had the longest jump in the day but not win the entire contest because you didn't get the longest jump in the grand jump off," she said. A festival will occur alongside the frog jump, Garrett said. The newest parts will be bounce houses for teenagers and the bookmobile from the Medina County District Library. Local vendors and restaurants will provide carnival food, and a DJ will play music throughout the day. A booth will also be in place for visitors to learn more about frogs. "We will always have frog education (and) amphibian education that teaches kids and families about the importance of aquatic life and keeping our frogs and amphibians safe and healthy," she said. The current frog jump mascot, Mayor Ribbit, will be going into semi-retirement, she said. There will be a new frog mascot this year and a naming competition will take place at the festival. The winner will name the new mascot and receive a $100 Samosky's Homestyle Pizza gift card. Visitors can also see a Mark Twain impersonator during the opening ceremonies. It costs $5 per round to jump, and participants can compete multiple times but not consecutively because of timing constraints. Jumpers can register ahead of time at frogjump.valleycity.org/. It costs $5 to rent a frog, but participants can catch their own frogs instead. VCCG is looking for frog catching volunteers as well as people who have large ponds filled with frogs who are willing to have the group catch their frogs. Those interested can contact Dbrass@mace.com. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.