2010 Contest

Left, Alan Erdman. Center, Philip Hitchcock. Right, Mike Prater. Photo by Marric Photography.

As one onlooker pointed out, "There are four winners here tonight. It's just that only one will get the title."

Almost 300 spectators gathered at the Bad Dog Bar & Grill on Saturday night, September 25, 2010, for the final part of the Mr Midwest Leather Contest. They cheered on four contestants who took part in the several stages of the competition. Each of the four men were outstanding; each accomplished in volunteer and community work, articulate and knowledgeable, each a leader in their region.

Mr Midwest Leather 2010: Philip Hitchcock of St. Louis, Missouri; artist, gallery owner, supporter of the Tom of Finland Foundation, member of Art Dimensions-St. Louis, Art St. Louis, HRC and the ACLU. Long involved in his community both business and personally. Philip was chosen First place and named Mr Midwest Leather 2010. He will be going on to represent his title at the International Mr Leather Contest in Chicago, 2012.

First Runner-up: Mike Prater of Evansville, Indiana, Mr. Crossings Lexington Leather 2010 and member of the Louisville (Kentucky) Trailblazers and the Kentucky Bourbon Bears. Mike placed second in the competition, awarded First Runner-up.

Second Runner-up: Alan Erdman of St. Louis, Missouri, 1st Runner up Mr Missouri Leather 2010, member of the Gateway Men's Chorus. Alan was selected third in the competition, awarded Second Runner-up.

Fourth Place: Cody Fairchild of St. Louis, Missouri, who before transitioning was Ms. Missouri Leather 1999 and Ms. St. Louis Leather Pride 1997, member of Blue Max CC, ambassador in the Transcending Leather Corps, a Novice Guard in the Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and a Duke in the Court of Many Rivers. Cody placed a very respectable fourth place in the competition.

Pictures of the contest are courtesy of Marric Photography, Flagstaff Arizona.

From left to right: Philip Hitchcock, Cody Fairchild, Alan Erdman, Mark Prater. All photos by Marric Photography.

The 2010 Contest

Emcee Mike Gaines of Kentucky, a veteran of numerous Leather Contests and events, as well as host of workshops and demonstrations nationally and internationally, kept the event moving smoothly, charming the crowd with his wit and humor, and generally impressing the hell out of everyone with his command of the podium.

Judges, Armed And Dangerous

Head Judge Karen Crecelius kept a strict hand on her fellow Judges and livened up the proceedings by providing Nerf dart guns for each of them. During the interview portion of the contest, when contestants met individually with the panel at the Sheraton hotel, they broke the ice by greeting each competitor with a shower of Nerf darts as they entered the room. The same guns were later employed on Emcee Mike Gaines when he was introduced and later on Contest Producer Charlie Schoenherr when they felt the intermission was going on too long.

Judges & Contest Volunteers

The judging panel (above) Karen Crecelius, Rick Burgess, Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2001, Chester Munro, Mr Chicago Leather 2010, Mike Lunter, Mr Missouri Leather 2009, and Ed LaBrash, President of the Gateway Gay Rodeo Association, 2010. Like Emcee Mike Gaines , they generously volunteered their time and energy to the three day event.

To keep the contest moving, contest producer Charlie Schoenherr, former Mr Midwest Leather, was aided by his volunteer staff, including Tallymaster Mark Bozif, Mr Missouri Leather 2003, who kept track of the scoring and did the math. Den Daddy O. John Groebl managed the four contestants, making sure they had what they needed and were where they needed to be when they needed to be there. Judges Runner Sparkie ensured the scoring was turned in efficiently and the Judges were kept watered. St. Louis' own Loki was the official Bootblack of the evening. Members of the Gateway Men's Chorus started out the Saturday night event singing the National Anthem.

During the event a silent auction, manned by Darrell and Dan, very hardworking and determined volunteers, raised money for the Mr Midwest Leather travel fund, as did equally hard working volunteers Jim and Tom selling jello shots and atomic bomb infused cherries. Members of the Gateway Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence worked the night selling raffle tickets. Dave and Neil manned the door for the Warehouse space, collecting money, putting on wristbands and handing out the tickets for complementary drinks.

A PAWS gift basket was raffled off during the event to raise money for St. Louis area charity PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support), part of St. Louis Effort For AIDS. Current Mr Missouri Leather 2010, Terry Laup and his partner, Chad, announced the total and thanked the crowd on behalf of PAWS, stating that enough money was raised to pay for vet bills for a year for one of the organizations charges.

A unexpected addition Saturday night was the announcement of the Honorary Mr Midwest Leather title, awarded to Chuck of Bad Dog, Mr Missouri Leather of 1986 and prominent member and mentor of the Leather Community of St. Louis for many decades. The bartender was brought up from the back bar and surprised with a custom vest and the appreciation and standing ovation of the crowd and judges. Event producer Charlie Schoenherr announced that an Honorary Mr Midwest Leather award will become an annual event with the contest.

Organizers greatly appreciated all the hard work and assistance by the owners and staff of Bad Dog. They not only provided a great deal of help in putting on the event, but also built a stage and printed sponsor posters at no charge. Both organizers and Bad Dog were very pleased with the crowd that turned out, including many out-of-towners who came for the contest.

The 2010 Contest

Thank you to our 2010 contest sponsors: