Nebraska's Fourth of July City celebrates America 250 in style

In 1976, Cartwright was the bicentennial champion, winning the contest three years straight.

"I could eat a quarter of an apple pie in eight seconds without any hands," Cartwright said. "I'm not coming out of retirement though. That's a younger man's game."

Cartwright said at age 72, this is his legacy.

"What will I be remembered for? Children, no. Apple pie? Vocation? It is apple pie," he said. "I'm going to give the shirt to the guy or woman (who wins), and I'm going to say, 'Show back up in 50 years like I did.'"

Despite a bout of rain early Saturday, thousands flocked to Nebraska's Fourth of July City for its 158th annual Independence Day celebration. For America 250, the festival's theme this year was "One Nation, Many Stories." 

On the custom T-shirt, which Cartwright presented to this year's champion Kayla Arneson, is a photo of his bicentennial win.

Cartwright said his daughter had three of the custom shirts made in total: one for him, one for Kolterman, who has chaired Seward’s annual Fourth of July festival for 58 years and the last one, now, for Arneson. 

Both Cartwright and Arneson said the secret to winning is quite simple: have a really big mouth and just cram the pie in there.

"This is my second time winning the whole thing. I've been winning my individual division for I don't even know how many years," Arneson said. "My cousin's won it a couple times. My other cousin's won the bubble gum blowing contest a couple times. This is kind of our family's thing, I guess." 

"It's says everybody has a story, but we're all together and we're one nation. That's what you do," Kolterman said. 

Kolterman said this celebration marking America's 250th birthday is extra special for people in Nebraska. 

"It is an opportunity for all of us to come together. It's a big family day, and if you don't have a family, you feel like you're a part of the family just by being here on the Fourth of July," Kolterman said. "It's almost like Christmas in the middle of summer." 

The festival included a number of kid-friendly events, including the best decorated bike/tike contest and a pet parade.

Maple, a baby goat dressed as a princess, took center stage at the bandshell for the pet parade, winning the "most exotic pet" award. 

Josalea Wilkie, a 15-year-old from Lincoln, said she made Maple's jewelry by hand and bedazzled hooves to give her a little extra sparkle.

"It took a little bit to get her a little pedicure," she said. 

Roaming the streets of downtown and taking photos with attendees along the way, Seward native Ken Baldinger attended the festival dressed as Uncle Sam.

"You aren't going to believe this, but this is not my real hair," he said, pointing to his wig. 

Baldinger said this was only his second year dressing as Uncle Sam for the Seward event.

"I actually let my beard grow out a little bit, and Clark Kolterman grabbed me and said, 'You need to be our Uncle Sam,'" Baldinger said. "I had such a good time last year, so I said, "Clark, I'll do it every year as long as I can do it."

Baldinger said he enjoys celebrating the Fourth of July because he wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 

"Is it a perfect country? No, it's not. Have we made serious mistakes? Yes, we have, but we rectified a lot of them. We really have," Baldinger said. "This is a great country."