FAYETTE, IOWA ~ Some people leave their mark on their hometown by planting a tree.
Some put their name on a building.
And apparently, if you’re Ashton Schultz, you put your artwork on the town’s watermelon celebration.
Twice.
The Fayette native was recently named the winner of the 2026 Fayette Watermelon Days logo contest.
But here’s the little detail that made Word ’Round Town stop and take another look:
She’s done this before.
Ashton also won the Watermelon Days logo contest back in 2021.
Five years later, the hometown girl is back ~ and once again, Fayette picked her design.
🍉 A Lot Can Happen in Five Years
Since that first winning logo, Ashton graduated from North Fayette Valley High School.
She served as Miss Fayette in 2023.
And now she’s attending Wartburg College in Waverly, where she’s majoring in business marketing and is a member of the dance team.
Then came Watermelon Days 2026.
This year’s theme is:
“Small Town, Big Flavor.”
And Ashton entered the logo contest again.
Her design was selected as the winner, earning her a $50 prize ~ but perhaps the more fun part is where her artwork is going.
The winning logo will appear on Watermelon Days T~shirts, magnets and other promotional materials around the celebration.
So somewhere in Fayette this weekend, somebody may be walking down Main Street wearing artwork created by a young woman who grew up right there.
We think that’s pretty neat. ❤️
❤️ Small Towns Have a Funny Way of Following You
There’s something about this story that feels especially appropriate for a festival theme called “Small Town, Big Flavor.”
Because small towns remember people.
The kid who entered the contest.
The young woman who represented the community.
The graduate who headed off to college.
And sometimes, a few years later, that person comes back and contributes another little piece to the place that helped raise her.
This weekend will mark the 53rd year of Watermelon Days, with three days of activities planned throughout Fayette from September 11~13. Organizers say their goal continues to be providing as much free family entertainment as possible.
There’s free watermelon, music, children’s activities, a parade, contests, fireworks and plenty more on this year’s schedule.
But somewhere among all of it will be Ashton’s logo.
Again.
And we rather like the thought of that.
Because sometimes “small town” doesn’t mean small opportunities.
Sometimes it means growing up…
going out into the world…
and discovering there’s still a little spot back home where something you created belongs.
And Ashton Schultz has now left her mark on Watermelon Days not once…
but twice.
Fayette Watermelon Days
September 11~13, 2026
Fayette, Iowa
Word ’Round Town recommends verifying event details directly with Watermelon Days organizers prior to attending, as schedules and information may be updated.
Official Fayette Watermelon Days website
Deliverance Hope ~Word ’Round Town | word-round-town.com
Keep Goin’ ‘Round Town
There’s always another story waiting just around the corner.