Scenes from Farm and City Days

Another successful Farm and City Days celebration is in the books.

 

A couple things really stood out to me as I spent my Saturday walking New Richland’s main street.

 

The number of events for kids.

 

I was really happy seeing the large amount of entertainment for youths. Ever since the carnival rides and games were removed from Farm and City Days, I felt like something was missing. This year, my impression was that, if I were still a child or teen, I would have had a good time. The ‘Kid Zone’ as it was dubbed, included a large number of activities in the park, a large rock-climbing setup that went almost 50 feet into the air and a bungee jump/trampoline type setup that looked really appealing. For parents with young kids, it would have made for a very fun, memorable day. 

 

As an adult, I enjoyed the morning pancake breakfast. I was happy to see Sue Kulseth celebrated as this year's grand marshal. She didn’t want a big fancy article when she retired, so  I respected her privacy and chose not to interview her. In my time working with the school since I graduated in 2016, Sue has been a pleasure to work with and I will miss her. During her acceptance speech, she mentioned the whirlwind her life has been recently as she prepares for her future endeavors. 

 

On Saturday, I had Ben Revermann shadow me as I walked around for the next two hours  interviewing the various street vendors. I talked with each of them, asked many questions, and took their pictures. My favorite encounter was the tie lady, Mardell Johnson. She makes beautiful small purses decorated with men’s neckties. She described starting the hobby more than 15 years ago when a friend asked her to finish a project; now it’s a  hobby business. What stood out most was how kind she was and the care she put into the projects she described. 

 

Speaking with Jason Casey was fun, as always. I not only learned a little more about him, at his stand I acquired some of his local honey as well as two retired New Richland Street signs to go with one I already owned. It brings me pleasure that I now have the sign which marked the street I lived on as I was growing up, and the one that once delineated the street where I currently live.  Walking by these signs all my life, I never would have guessed one, or three, would end up in my house one day. 

 

After speaking with the vendors, I snapped some photos at the kid zone, along with other activities before proceeding to the classic car show. It was another great turnout. Eli’s newspaper choice award is a tie for any of the mid-60s Mustangs. There was a black one that I really liked. 

 

At 1 p.m. I photographed all of the winners of this year’s awards. Speaking with Janda about her Mayor’s Choice Award was enlightening. She talked of a restoration project currently underway in her family of a similar vehicle. 

 

Next up was the Adult Tricycle race. It did not disappoint, as I only witnessed one accident and one outrageous outfit. Nearing the end of activities, the kids’ tractor pull was a huge hit again. 

 

For lunch, I stopped with friends at the Red Leaf and enjoyed some loaded waffle fries. Oh, and the pleasant company of Theresa. She and husband Dean are a big reason I enjoy local diners. 

 

At 5 p.m. the parade went through town. I’m not a big fan of all the loud noises, but I do enjoy taking photos as the various parade units pass by. With Ben shadowing me as a learning experience, I emphasized the importance of “framing” photos and talked about how I love to capture happy facial expressions–as far as I’m concerned, the best photos are those which include a natural smile or laugh. There’s no better feeling than knowing I’ve recorded a special moment. 

 

After a nap and some Cowboy Tacos from Blake’s food truck, I headed to the street dance with my aunt, cousin Taya and friends. The music, this year, was really good. I enjoyed the song selection; the band’s vocals were excellent. The company was also excellent. 

 

All in all, I think the Farm and City Days committee and everyone else involved in this year’s celebration did an excellent job and should be commended. I did not mention Friday and Sunday’s events, but I trust, from what I heard, they were well enjoyed. 

 

“Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important. Capture the good times. And if things don't work out, just take another shot.” ― Ziad K. Abdelnour