POLSON — Over at Linderman Elementary School on Thursday morning it was a time for the 27th Annual Bug Race. 

There was a wide range of contestants present, there were beetles, grasshoppers, ants, spiders and even a worm or two. 

Grace Carter, age five, just recently moved to Polson. She brought her ant, “Annie” to the bug race today. 

Grace’s Mom, Amy Carter said, “she was pretty fast,  although she really just ran around. ” 

Addy Deranleau, age six, brought a grasshopper. Addy found her bug while driving to her great-nana’s house. 

“There were a bunch of grasshoppers there!” She exclaimed. 

When asked how her grasshopper did in the competition Addy replied, “ he lost a leg and then I lost.” 

Although there were a few fatalities in the ring as eight-year-old Casey Trosper  said,

 “my first bug died and the second one got stepped on.” 

So for those planning on competing next year, it appears that the best advice would be to come with a few bug subs.

That is also the advice bug race veteran Marilyn Trosper gives to new competitors. Trosper has been in charge of organizing the event for the past 26 years and is the one responsible for creating the rules and regulations for the race. 

So for those that plan on joining next year or for returning competitors there was more advice on choosing the winning bug.

 Susan Clark, also known as Cooper’s mom and grasshopper wrangler, said, “catch the morning of the race; fresh bugs are the best bugs.” 

This was the third year for grand champion Peyton Devlin, age seven, who won with his beetle. His advice for winning as he told his little sister four-year old Charlie Devlin, 

 “ always pick a beetle.”