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Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest

The Contest

Joe's Pond is located in West Danville, Vermont. The Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest started of as a simple betting game between Jules Chatot (the president of the Joe's Pond Association at the time) and his friends. However, it was eventually turned into a full-fledged competition. The rules of the game are simple: just be the closest guesser for when the pond's ice will go out. The ticket to join costs $1, and the winner's prize is valued at approximately $5,000.

Source: Joe's Pond Association

The Past 5 Winners

  1. 2016, Pamela Swift, Barre, VT, 4/12/16, 5:04 p.m.,
  2. 2017, Emily Wiggett, North Danville, VT, 4/23/17, 4:32 p.m.,
  3. 2018, Michael S. Cody, Barre, VT, 5/4/18, 11:27 a.m.,
  4. 2019, Robynn L. Albert, Essex Jct, VT, 5/4/18, 5:39 a.m.,
  5. 2020, Angela Buttara and Nancy Durand, Essex Jct, VT and Hardwick, VT, 4/15/20, 6:07 a.m.,
Joe's Pond ice-out flag pole
Joe's Pond ice-out flag pole. [photo: Happy Vermont]