23 Days Until Elk Toss

With only a little over three weeks until the Elk Toss, you are probably wondering about the driveway. Don't worry, we will definitely provide updates before February 18.

2023 Elk Toss Information

After being cancelled for the past two years because of COVID, we are pleased to announce that the 75th Annual Danville German Society Elk Toss, Winter Festival, and Charity Auction will be held at the Wagner Farm in Danville on February 18th, 2023.

The general schedule of events can be found here. Events will begin at about noon and continue throughout the afternoon. Exact event times will vary depending on weather, attendance, driveway conditions, etc.

This year's events will benefit the Gate House shelter in Danville and the Jana Marie Foundation in State College.

We request again that you to bring cans and other non-perishable food items to donate to the
Danville-Riverside Food Bank. 

Also, please bring pot-luck food to share with others at the Wagner Farm. The Elk Toss will once again be BYOB as we have not been able to secure donations from local breweries.

Please bring items to donate to this year's charity auction, and make sure you bring money to buy stuff in the auction. Please bring auction items that you think that someone would actually want.  Please do not use our auction as a way to take out your trash.   

 

Feel free to dress up in your best German or Pennsylvania Dutch outfit. This is not a requirement, but be prepared to be ridiculed if you don't look German.  

To reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, please refrain from bringing your own elk or other cervids.

After the Elk Toss, we have arranged for entertainment at the Old Forge Brewing Company starting at 7pm. Music will be provided by Van Wagner and Ethan Weader and magic will be provided by Fred Iobst.

The Danville German Society recommends anyone who has enjoyed fermented and/or distilled beverages to book a room at the Pine Barn Inn (800-627-2276 or 570-275-2071). Information about other hotels (not within walking distance of downtown Danville) can be found here.

Elk Toss Preparation

This DGS Blog has not been used much since COVID-19 came along, but we hope to return to frequent blogging like we're back in 2007. For now, you need to know that the 75th Annual Elk Toss will occur on February 18, 2023 at the Wagner Farm. 

Here are a few videos to help with your preparation.

Tree Fort

Driveway Tips

2022 Elk Toss Cancelled

 The 2022 Elk Toss, Charity Auction, and Winter Festival has been cancelled as noted in the official prognostication from Punxsutawney Phil issued early in the morning on February 2, 2022...

Here ye, here ye, here ye,

Today, 2-2-22, welcome to Punxsutawney to celebrate Groundhog Day. the one hundred thirty sixth annual trek of the Punxsutawney groundhog club.

Punxsutawney phil, the seer of seers, the prognosticator of all prognosticators, was gently lifted from his burrow at 7:25 am, and held high to see. His faithful followers had returned with glee!

Placing phil on top of the stump, where in Groundhogese, he directed the president, jeff Lundy, and the inner circle to his prediction scroll that reads:

Winter has been bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet winter is just another step in the cycle of life

As I look out over the faces of the true believers from around the world, I bask in the warmth of your hearts.

I couldn’t imagine a better fate, with my shadow I have cast, than a long and lustrous six more weeks of winter.

Also... I almost forgot... the Danville German Society Elk Toss will not occur this year.

2021 Virtual Elk Toss Video

Congratulations to all who participated in the Elk Toss in 2021. Enjoy these videos of the top three tosses.

Virtual Elk Toss Videos Coming Soon

The DGS Officers have whittled down all of the excellent Elk Toss videos that were submitted over the past few weeks. A compilation of the best tosses will be posted sometime on Saturday.

Since we won't be having an in-person Elk Toss this year, we will not be able to raise money from event entry fees and the charity auction. If you are able, please consider making a donation to the Gate House in Danville.

2021 Virtual Elk Toss

And now for some good news...

We are still working on the details, but the Elk Toss will live on in 2021 as a virtual event. Here is what you will need to do to participate:

1. Toss something (your choice, be creative), and capture the toss on video. Videos should be limited to one minute.
2. Save the video to google drive (set to "anyone with link can edit") and share with vanwags@yahoo.com. If you do not know how to use google drive, ask a teenager.
   
3. Videos should be submitted before February 1 to allow time to compile and to determine winners in categories to be determined by DGS officers.
4.  On February 20, the virtual Elk Toss will occur. Details will be provided later.

Please do not touch the orange hose while tossing, and remember to retrieve your elk.

2021 Elk Toss Update

Dispatch from the Wagner Farm (edited for clarity)...

 

There seems to be some controversy regarding what year the 2021 elk toss will be (75th?). The by-laws are very clear on this matter.  

3.91B7. If the officers are unable to determine the numeric occurrence of a particular elk toss, all events should be postponed that year.  

This actually happened in 1961. As all of you will recall, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were in an incredible home run race. Babe Ruth held the record with 60 home runs. When Maris hit number 61 in 1961, it caused a mathematical tailspin that still has ramifications today (remember the collapse of Enron and American Idol season 7). According to some records, it would have been the 16th Danville German Society Elk Toss. However, that was proven to be impossible since there are photos of Franz Klingerman winning in 1933. If the 1st (and that's "if") Elk Toss was 1933, then 1961 would be the 28th, not 16th. When you add 28 and 16 you get 44. I'm sure you see where this is going. We would like to congratulate Roger Maris for his amazing accomplishment.  

 

DGS COVID-19 Update

Because we understand that most people get their news from this blog, we wanted to make it clear that the DGS is working diligently to remain updated and follow recommendations of the CDC and government officials on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. Our message to our members is that we recommend that you also follow the recommendations of the CDC and goverment. In particular, we recommend listening to Governor Wolf and other Pennsylvania health officials. Be safe.

2020 Elk Toss Results

Once again, the 75th Annual Elk Toss, Charity Auction, and Winter Festival was a success. We raised a total over $2900 which will soon be split between the following organizations.

$2000 - Gate House, Danville

$500 - Community Cafe at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in State College

$300 - House of Care, State College
$169 - Danville Diaper Bank

We also collected about a pickup truck full of food for the Danville-Riverside Food Bank.

There are a few missing hometowns and names in the results below. Please let us know in the comments if you have any corrections.

If you have photos or videos that you would like to share, feel free to email them to us at danvillegerman@yahoo.com or share them on our facebook page. 

Men's Elk Toss

1st - Jacob Wagner, Danville - 53'1"

2nd - James Thompson, - 51'10"

3rd - Dylan Durnick - 51'0""

3rd - Van Wagner, Danville - 48'10"

5th - Ryan Zerbe, Maryland - 44"0""

Women's Elk Toss

1st - Olivia Roth, Reading - 35'6"

2nd - Pam Shellenberger, State College - 32'9"

3rd - Tamara Wagner, Danville - 31'0"

Children's Elk Toss

1st - Holden Franz, Danville - 45'0"

2nd - Camden, - 36'

3rd - Valerie, 34'1"

Hog Toss (12-17 Years Old)

1st - Luke Wagner, Danville - 40'2"

2nd - 33'9"

3rd - Noland, 26'5"

Elk Bugling Competition

1st - Ryan Zerbe, Maryland

Salad Toss

1st - Ann Clements / Brian Nichols, State College (2nd year in a row)

Beard Competition

1st - Biscuit

Scrap Iron Toss

1st - Todd Tilford

2nd - TJ Willoughby, Danville

Kids Scrap Iron Toss
1st - Holden Frantz, Danville
2nd - Logan Shellenberger, State College