RIVERS
BANNER July 17, 2015
Volume 107, Issue 3
ersary v i n Celebrating our 107th An
Gazette-Reporter Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 106 years
89¢ + tax
Rain and sun for two-day fair By Sheila Runions Banner Staff ak River Ag Society successfully completed its MGRA show on Sunday before two-tenths of rain fell late in the day. The main fair on Monday, July 13 was warm and dusty — horses in the early morning classes were already creating dust in their ring as they trotted and loped for judge Tara Hofer of Brandon who decided on these main winners: champion pony, Makayla Duthie of Melita; reserve champion pony, Eileen Eagle Bear of Minto; champion horse, Jordan Brown of Forrest; reserve horse, Shelby King of Corning, Sask.; champion miniature, Rod Hart of Carman; reserve miniature, Bernice Gerrard of Oak River; miniature driving stake, Heather Hart of Carman and Margret Kristjansson of Wawanesa; first- and secondplace western pleasure sweepstake winners were Jason Herman of Virden and Shelby King . Two dozen cow-calf pairs were confined for the commercial classic pen class in which the entry fee is split equally between the society and the winner; Jim McGee won $41. The pens were judged as Megan Jahns, Kenton, Matthew Ramsey, Strathclair, Brendan English, Rivers and Marty Ramsey, Oak River. In cattle classes judged by Trevor Peters of Rivers, he named Gurr’s Simmental, Miniota as grand champion bull; Sunblade Charolais, Foxwarren, grand and reserve grand champion Charolais/Shorthorn bull; NYK Cattle Company, Douglas, grand and reserve grand champion Angus bull; Hedley Livestock, Rapid City, champion Simmental female; Suntek Livestock, Foxwarren reserve champion Simmental female; Justin Kristjansson, Forrest, champion Charolais/Shorthorn female; Wyatt Inglis, Rapid City, reserve champion Charolais/Shorthorn female; HBH Farms, Oak River, champion Angus female; NYK Cattle Company, reserve champion Angus female; HBH Farms, overall champion female; Hedley Livestock, overall reserve champion female. Domestic entries inside Oak River Memorial Rink were similar in number to years past, save for baking which was noticeably less. Of all the baking, preserves, school work, handicrafts, quilting, sewing, knitting, photography, woodworking, flowers, produce, etc. Lois Hyndman of Cardale won best overall exhibitor and Alexis McLean of Oak River won best overall sheaf. Shelley Burt of Oak River won the sixth annual poop plop. The first year was a cow that waited four hours. The second year started with a cow which had to leave before the business was complete, so a horse was brought in to finish the job. Since then, a horse has done the dirty work, in much less time than a cow and with much less mess. This 50/50 fundraiser for Oak River Rink Association had 276 people purchase twofoot squares this year. Midwest Recreation District co-ordinated a kid’s karnival; bingo and ball games (Oak River, Oak River Midgets, Hamiota and Brandon) were held, and CKLQ Radio’s event van was on the grounds. Ag society volunteers ran two canteens which offered burgers, dogs, sandwiches, pie (indoor), chips and chocolate bars (outdoor). Other food included a society-co-ordinated breakfast and a church-sponsored supper. Considering the intense heat (more than 30C), the fair was deemed successful; gate attendance dropped only 35 people from last year.
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Photos by Sheila Runions
Top: Less than half of the 17 horses in this class are shown lining up for judge Tara Hofer of Brandon to make her decision. Middle: Judge Trevor Peters of Rivers eyes up these heifers for width, depth, barrel, etc.; in the end he named Hedley Livestock of Rapid City as the winner. Bottom: After wandering his 550-square-foot pen for some 90 minutes, Chex decided to make Shelley Burt $1,015 richer.
The office will re-open Rivers Banner Monday, July 27; we look to receiving your ads is on holidays. forward and stories at that time.