The competition that drew a crowd to the Plaza of the Americas Thursday evening was unlike any other at UF. There were no quizzes, trivia questions or athletics — just appetite. Over 100 onlookers stood behind competitors, clapping and shouting at students as they scarfed down heads of lettuce, salad dressing dripping down their faces.
The lettuce-eating competition returned to UF’s campus for the second time after seven months, crowning one victorious “lettuce head” with the prized “Head of Lettuce” tiara.
Jason Wutzler earned the title after downing his head of romaine in two minutes and fifteen seconds, beating out the second- and third-place participants by 13 seconds and 31 seconds, respectively.
Wutzler, an 18-year-old UF aerospace engineering freshman, said he learned about the competition from a friend’s direct message on Instagram. He was initially on the fence about participating, he said, but decided on a whim to compete because of compelling Instagram advertising via stories and posts from the organization.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “Maybe I will come back next year. But then again, maybe I’ll let somebody else win.”
Over 100 students registered online up to right before the competition, with an in-person check-in, according to club leadership, surpassing their expectations. While fewer than 40 showed up to partake in the game, over 100 students spectated.
Contestants provided their own iceberg or romaine lettuce, and some brought bottles of salad dressing to douse their lettuce with flavor. They gathered on the lawn while the audience circled around them, watching with gaping mouths as students chowed down on leafy greens.
Madeline Lile-Defino, a 19-year-old plant science sophomore and the president of UF Lettuce Club, said the organization was founded to promote sustainable agriculture, conservation and education while uniting lettuce lovers.
Lettuce Club began as a “group project” between her and the founding members, she said, but the club expanded to more events after organizers witnessed the popularity of the first lettuce-eating competition in the Spring.
“We wanted a club that held these ideals while still being able to have fun, silly events and a sense of community,” Lile-Defino said.
In the Spring, the club also co-hosted a cleanup of the Bartram-Carr Woods with Unlitter UF, an educational scavenger hunt with the Inter-Residence Hall Association and a social with the UF Archery Club where members shot heads of lettuce with arrows.
To close out Thursday’s competition, the three fastest lettuce eaters were awarded gold trophies embellished with lettuce heads, and a vegetable or herb plant.
Anthony Joseph, an 18-year-old UF biochemistry freshman, didn’t place on the podium, but he said he was proud of his effort and how many turned up for the lighthearted fun.
“I feel passionate,” Joseph said. “It makes me feel fulfilled that all these people band together to eat lettuce.”
Samuel Hess, a 17-year-old UF industrial systems engineering freshman, shared similar thoughts of the event’s ability to bring together a community of lettuce enjoyers.
“It’s amazing to be a lettuce head and to be around all the other lettuce heads, just to bask in the greenness,” he said.
Contact Sofia Garcia at sofiagarcia@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @sconsuelogarcia.
Sofia Garcia is a first-year journalism and political science double major at UF and serving as the student government reporter for Fall 2026. This is her first semester at The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, playing video games, or connecting with her friends and family back home in Miami.
