BELPRE, Ohio — The tradition of making apple butter the old-fashioned way continued at the 29th annual Belpre Apple Butter Stir-Off on Oct. 6-7.

Nearly 2,000 people attended this year’s stir-off at Howe’s Grove Park in Belpre – a small community on the banks of the Ohio River about two hours southeast of Columbus – said Debbie Marshall, chairperson of the event.

“Attendance is down a bit this year,” she said. “I don’t know whether it is because it’s hot or there are other things going on in the area.” The sun, little cloud cover and above 90-degree temperatures, which were 20 degrees above normal, made stirring apple butter uncomfortable.

“Because of the dry year we had, the apples were small, dry and meaty, which makes good apple butter,” said Tom Webster, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 91 in Belpre. “But it’s really too hot to make it now.

“Apple butter is a fall food, not for hot days.”

This year’s late frost and hot, dry summer not only made the apples smaller, but also fewer in number, Webster said.

“We picked about 37 bushels from Holdren’s Orchard (just outside of Belpre), but the other 70 or so bushels were grown in Virginia,” he said.

It took two weeks of evening work for the apple butter to go from fresh, whole apples to the finished product. “In all, it takes about 10 hours from beginning to end,” Webster said.

The Scout’s earnings go to the individual boys’ accounts to be used for summer camp and other special projects. The church uses the proceeds for general projects.

The troop has made about 220 gallons of apple butter with members of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church for years to sell at the festival for $3.75 per pint and $6 per quart, primarily using apples grown in and around Belpre. As part of the stir-off, the troop members and volunteers stirred apple butter both days of the event in cast iron pots with coins in the bottoms.

“It’s tradition to use five pennies, but we use five 50-cent pieces in every kettle because they have better weight,” Webster said. “They are supposed to keep the butter from sticking and burning on the bottom, but who knows?”

Marshall said the event brings the community together to celebrate the end of summer and the “harvest through apples.”

Live entertainment included an antique tractor show, musical performances and an apple pie eating contest. It was the first time in about six years there was a contest and the five Belpre High School football players won.

Boy Scout Troop 13 filled in when the original opponents, Warren High School football players, did not show.

“Next year, I’m bringing nose plugs,” said Jared Lee, the first to finish his pie.

Other winners were surprised with how messy the contest was. “I have apple pie in places you wouldn’t imagine,” said Joshua Clark.