A six-foot rattler was one of many added to the 123 tons that have been caught since the first Sweetwater Jaycees World’s Largest Rattle Snake Roundup in 1940.

The March 8-11 event was filled with all ages and contests from snakes to beauty pageants at Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater. The weekend commenced with a rattlesnake parade in downtown Sweetwater. Later in evening young women competed for the title of Miss Snake Charmer, a title that comes with a college scholarship.

The rest of the weekend consisted of snake handling shows, gun and knife shows and guided rattlesnake hunts, fried snake meat tastings, and chili cook-offs among other events. Numerous vendors, a flea market and a carnival are available to entertain visitors.

Experienced snake hunters guide groups of registered hunters out daily to assist in the hunting and handling of live rattle snakes. Tours last from four hours to all day. Hunters received $10 for ever pound of snakes they collected.

David Sager, floor chairmen and safety inhaling demonstrator, helped organize and run the event. Part of his responsibility is to teach kids about snakes and snake safety.

“Although the weather wasn’t good it was still a good weekend, the largest snake that won was 73-and-a-half inches,” Sager said.

Zane Goggans, junior broadcast journalism major from Arlington, enjoyed his first visit to the rattlesnake roundup. Goggans favorite part of the Rattlesnake Roundup was watching the snake handlers skin and gut the rattlesnakes. He was filming the event, and he liked to watch the snakes try to bight the camera when the handler put it in the snake pit.

“The rattlesnake roundup was fine, I went on Friday, but they didn’t have as many rattlesnakes. I ate the rattlesnake spine, it was nasty, oily, greasy, and tough but if the event was going on right now I would do it again and go back,” said Goggans.