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Kosciusko County didn't send the smallest delegation to Atlanta last week during the All America City Award competition - a group from Montana had that distinction, bringing 11 people to the capital of Georgia.
Kosciusko County came in second with 13 people.
The largest group was from South Miami, Fla., with 280 people.
The Kosciusko County group failed in its bid to win All America recognition for the county and found a lot to be proud of anyway.
"Actually, it was a learning experience," said Angela Ritchey, one of the co-authors of the All America City application.
"We had no previous experience, no previous knowledge, of what to expect. We had a great time and learned a lot," she said.
Ritchey said some communities, before they even fill out an application, spend a couple of years taping the presentations in preparation for their own appearance.
The All America City Award provides national recognition and promotion for the top 10 winners.
"It helps promote tourism and other communities get to see what a great place yours is," Ritchey said. "A lot of places realize increased benefits from the designation."
The 12-member jury selected Bozeman, Mont.; Santa Clara, Calif.; Delray Beach, Fla.; South Miami, Fla.; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Howard County, Md.; Ocean City, Md.; Independence, Mo.; Fayetteville, N.C.; and Brownsville, Texas, as its 10 All America cities.
Christanne Howe, Stephanie Noffsinger and Ritchey filled out the award application as part of their Kosciusko Leadership Academy white paper.
Ritchey, who will be the KLA curriculum director next year, hopes one or more of next year's KLA participants will carry the All America City torch and reapply.
"Some of the communities put quite a bit of time, effort and money in their campaign," she said. "They hired choreographers, speech teachers came in and worked on their inflection ..."
Members of the Kosciusko County contingent were: Jeff Noffsinger, Steve Ritchey, Jacob Ritchey, Mike Kubacki, Avis Gunter, Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Joann Walgamuth, Yolanda Garza, Randy Heddington and Ryan Finney.
Even though they weren't chosen as one of the 10 All America cities this year, Ritchey said, "We all feel Kosciusko County is an All America City and we were happy to share that with the 29 other communities and the National Civic League."
