Aberdeen Magazine July/August 2019

BROWN COUNTY FAIR

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SUMMER’S BIGGEST EVENT P.44

A home at Richmond Lake gets a gorgeous new look.

26 THE

IS ON Doc Sebastian shares the art (and science) behind his 40-year career in radio.

30

Seven cool ways to dress up a t-shirt by Wanderlust Boutique. 34

Hear a first-hand account of the ghost who haunted a YMCA summer camp for decades.

38 THE BOYS OF THE SUMMER OF ’42

Fasten your seatbelts, we’re going along for a ride with the pilots of the flying coffins.

Take a closer look at this summer’s biggest event: The Brown County Fair.

For our cover story, we headed to the Brown County Speedway and landed some photos of fashion in action. With a few quick tricks and accessories, Wanderlust Boutique showed us how women can wear a basic t-shirt supporting their favorite sport and still look fashionable. Pictured is one of our models for the shoot, NSU student athlete Gameillia Becker. Photo by Troy McQuillen.

ISSN 2378-3060

“I love the Aberdeen Magazine. There are so many local businesses and places in every issue that I had never heard about before.”

Every time we get a message like this from a reader, I do a little happy dance at my desk. Revealing the hidden gems and talented people in Aberdeen is by far what I love the most about putting these pages together.

Admittedly, when I started this job a tiny part of me was worried we would run out of things to write about. Aberdeen, after all, isn’t Sioux Falls or a bigger city, and when you’ve lived here forever, you get into a routine that takes you to the same places in town, talking to the same people, shopping at the same stores— over and over again. This is all good stuff— relationships are what small towns are all about!

But sometimes I catch myself with blinders up. I can be at an event that I’ve gone to for years, or at a park my kids make me stop at every time we drive by, and I’ll hurry through it because I think I’ve seen it all before.

I’m here to tell you, though, that is simply not true! Even if you’ve been somewhere a million times, there’s always a chance to look closer. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in this issue. We wanted to challenge you to see some Aberdeen area classics with new eyes, such as our main events (like the Brown County Fair, page 44), the landscape in our backyard (Ordway Prairie, page 20), and even the voices we hear on the radio (check out Doc Sebastian’s story, page 26).

So take a cue from the long, lazy days of summer and take your time wandering through everything—old and new—that Aberdeen has to offer this season.

Jenny Roth, MANAGING EDITOR

THIS ISSUE ’ S CONTRIBUTORS

DEANN REIF is the owner of Ultimate Kitchen & Bath in Aberdeen. As an interior design consultant, she has years of experience helping clients create stylish and affordable solutions for their kitchen and bath needs.

KEN KIRKPATRICK is an Aberdeen native who has many memories of spending summers at Pickerel Lake. After serving as a pilot in the Navy’s aviation program for 24 years, he moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, and worked in the home appliance manufacturing business until his retirement. Aberdeen residents may remember Kirkpatrick’s Jewelry Store on Main Street. Three generations of Ken’s family operated the business from 1906 to 1993.

MANAGING EDITOR

Jenny Roth

PUBLISHER

Troy McQuillen

DESIGN

Eliot Lucas

AD SALES

Alyssa Roller

alyssa@mcquillencreative.com

PUBLICATION OFFICE

McQuillen Creative Group 423 S. Main St., Suite 1 Aberdeen SD, 57401 (605) 226-3481

PRINTING

Midstates Printing

SUBMISSIONS

Aberdeen Magazine welcomes your input. Message us your story ideas, drop off historic photos, or stop in for a chat. Email us at: troy@mcquillencreative.com

WEBSITE

www.aberdeenmag.com

PRIVACY STATEMENT

Any personal information, email addresses, or contact submitted to the editorial office or online via our Facebook page will not be sold or distributed. Aberdeen Magazine does wish to publish public comments and attitudes regarding Aberdeen, therefore written submissions and comments on our Facebook page implies permission to utilize said information in editorial content.

STEPHANIE LUDENS is a video producer for McQuillen Creative Group and Countryside Productions. Her passions are graphic design, photography, and video. In her work, she is inspired to "capture the moments of today that will wow their hearts tomorrow."

MIKE MCCAFFERTY is an avid historian, accomplished writer, professional fisherman, and trainer. His passion is Great Plains history, and he currently serves as chairman of the Dacotah Prairie Museum Board. Mike has had over 200 articles printed in outdoor magazines throughout the Midwest and Canada.

CORRECTIONS FROM OUR MAY/JUNE 2019 ISSUE

In “The Little House on the Prairie” we listed Leslie Barbour’s tiny home at 720 square feet. The home is about 470 square feet.

In “Long Live Local Food” we said Dakota Style Chips are made in Mound City. They are manufactured in Clark, South Dakota (www.dakotastyle.com). We apologize for the error!

Aberdeen Magazine is produced exclusively in Aberdeen, South Dakota. All content is copyright with all rights reserved. No content may be shared, copied, scanned, or posted online without permission. Please just ask us first. We’re pretty flexible.

www.mcquillencreative.com

PATRICK GALLAGHER is a regular contributor commenting on Aberdeen’s personality, food options, and history.

YOUR SOURCE FOR WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ABERDEEN

’70S RADIO EXTRAVAGANZA TAKES OVER THE AIRWAVES

In celebration of their 40year class reunion, the Aberdeen Central Class of 1979 is hijacking the airwaves with their own radio program.

Hosting The Class of ’79 Reunion Rewind, which airs August 31 from noon to 6:00 PM on 107.7 KABDFM, is Central alum and hall of famer Wally Wingert. Wally was a DJ on Aberdeen’s KABR during high school from 1977 to 1978. He went on to become a voice over artist in Los Angeles, working on shows such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Incredibles 2, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Murphy Brown, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition, he is the current image voice for Dakota Broadcasting’s 107.7.

ADORABLE AND AFFORDABLE

Thanks to a new children’s boutique, busy Aberdeen parents are shopping online and having their kids’ clothes delivered right to their doorsteps.

Boss Baby Boutique is an e-commerce store featuring infant, toddler, kid, and tween-sized clothing. Their merchandise can be purchased at www.thebossbabyboutique.com . Owner Kelsea Schwab mails items all over the country and delivers them in person in Aberdeen. She says the business started out geared toward infants and toddlers, but after hearing from customers at vendor fairs who wanted clothes for older children too, she began including up to size 16 for girls and size 8 for boys. Another factor she’s built into her company is a set price range. “The

highest priced item on our site is $42 and most everything is under $35,” she says.

Kelsea runs the boutique along with having a full-time job and raising her young daughter. Her friend, Alli Campton, helps with Facebook live events and at vendor shows. Someday they hope to have a storefront for the boutique, though their main goal is helping kids feel confident.

Throughout the special sixhour broadcast, Wally will share personal stories and recollections from growing up in Aberdeen in the ’70s, along with his favorite rock, disco, and pop music from the era. Tune in for an afternoon of laughs and memories as Wally rewinds to ’79. // —

Jenny Roth

will host a special radio broadcast on August 31 for 107.7.

Kelsea says, “Sometimes different textures can be uncomfortable for kids, so one important thing we do is make sure our outfits are cute and comfortable. We want kids to feel like they’re superstars wearing whatever they’re wearing.” // — Jenny

 You can follow Boss Baby Boutique at www.facebook.com/thebossbabyboutique

Roth

Photo courtesy of Wally Wingert

 Wally Wingert

Photo by KS Photography

 Boss Baby Boutique provides cute and comfortable clothing for children and infants.

YEAR-ROUND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IS ON THE WAY

We’ve all had our plans ruined by that reliable South Dakota weather (cue the rain, wind, and snow). A new entertainment center opening this winter aims to bring families together for fun, without the hassle of worrying about what Mother Nature has planned.

Allevity Entertainment Center is under construction now just north of the Aberdeen Mall near Matchbox Recreation. The 20,300-square-foot space will house at least six attractions, three party rooms, and a café. David and Holly Novstrup, who own Allevity along with Al and Kathy Novstrup, say the facility will be a place where an entire family can walk in and find something to do. “It’s a space for all ages to hang out, from toddlers to teenagers and their parents,” David explains. The Novstrups put a lot of thought, and some fun hands-on research, into deciding which activities they’ll offer at Allevity. Patrons will get to choose from three-team laser tag, an arcade with about 40 different games, mini bowling, an indoor playground, an augmented climbing wall with projector challenges, and Spin Zone, which is similar

LOCAL FOOD DRIVE SHATTERS RECORD

Twenty-five thousand four hundred and fifty-five. That’s how many pounds of food the Aberdeen community donated to local food pantries in May. The number means a lot, not just because it broke the record for the most pounds of food gathered since the drive started 26 years ago, but because it guarantees that the shelves at places like the Salvation Army and the Journey Home will be full for at least six months.

Hunger isn’t something we see out in the open in Aberdeen as often as we would in larger cities, yet it still exists. Angie Cleberg, executive assistant with the United Way of Northeastern SD, explains, “A lot of people donate to food banks during the holidays, and by May their supplies are starting to get depleted again. This drive is scheduled for spring to fill all those shelves back up with enough food to last until the holidays come around again.”

to bumper cars. Food will be made on site and they plan to be open every day of the week. Field trips, birthday parties, and large groups are all welcome.

David says they’re looking forward to opening and being a part of all the things Aberdeen is already doing to make the city a great place to live and visit. “Aberdeen does such a good job of bringing in events and keeping events, and we want to add to that by giving people another option for things to do while they’re here.” // — Jenny Roth



Nationally, the United Way partners with the National Association of Letter Carriers to host this Stamp Out Hunger Drive, which is the largest single-day food drive in the country. It’s an event that literally everyone in Aberdeen can take part in without even having to leave their house. A few days before the food collection, letter carriers place a bag in every mailbox in Aberdeen and the surrounding rural area. That’s the signal for residents to fill those bags with any nonperishable items they can and then place them back by their mailboxes. Later in the week, letter carriers pick up the bags and deliver them

to the post office where all the food gets sorted and distributed.

This year, schools and businesses held competitions to see who could donate the most, while everyone from Boy Scouts to individual families to restaurants volunteered. Angie says, “The best part is how every single person can participate in this event, and how much the people in Aberdeen are excited about it and take ownership of it.” // —

Jenny Roth

 For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger project, visit the United Way’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/unitedwaynesd

Photo by Troy McQuillen

 This May, Aberdeen residents collected 25,455 pounds of food for local food banks. Pictured are employees with Agtegra and their recording-breaking, 7,500-pound donation to the drive.

 Allevity Entertainment Center is being built north of the Aberdeen Mall. Pictured is a rendering of their finished building by HKG Architects.

Keep up with Allevity Entertainment Center on Facebook or at www.Allevity.FUN.

AN INVENTION BUILT BY A VILLAGE

What began as a simple shoebox top with holes is turning into an important invention for patients who take breathing treatments.

It all started because Susan Evans, an occupational therapist in the home health field with over 20 years of experience, saw a reoccurring need happening with many of her patients. She was going into their homes to do therapy, but many times they were too out of breath to participate due to confusion with their nebulizer medications. “Almost all nebulizer medicines come in clear, plastic vials, and they look very similar. For people who take one or more of these treatments every day, they can be

of their nebulizer medications. In April, NebTray was awarded third place and $5,000 at the Governor's Giant Vision business competition.

DULCE’S HISPANIC MINIMARKET OPENS

If there’s a staple from Latin America that you’re missing from your kitchen, chances are you’ll find it at Dulce’s Hispanic Store. The shelves are lined with specialty spices, snacks, candies, canned and boxed goods, drinks, and produce for Hispanic cooking. And then there’s the bakery, piled high with sweet breads and rolls you can’t find anywhere else in town. Owner Jose Salas grew up in Mexico and is now working at Demkota and raising his family in Aberdeen. He says filling the need for finding products used often in his own home inspired him to open the business in May. “We wanted

to be able to buy these things here ourselves and noticed a lot of other Spanish-speaking people coming to the area, so we thought we’d start a small store and see if people liked it.” He adds that the minimarket is for everyone, and non-Spanish speakers are encouraged to stop in too. “I’d like all ethnics to come here and learn more about us and try something different. We have a little bit of everything, from snacks to produce.”

Jose’s wife, Ana Irene Aguilar, manages Dulce’s, while the couple’s five children will help out when they can. On the weekends, they hope to

difficult to keep track of,” she explains. With the idea to help patients and caregivers better organize nebulizer medicines, she created NebTray. It works much like a weekly pill organizer, only with spots for nebulizer vials.

Susan’s invention quickly went from a design scratched into a shoebox lid to a prototype manufactured in Minneapolis that is out for trial use by patients all over eastern South Dakota. Once the trial period is over, she’ll be able to finalize the product and have it for sale worldwide via www.nebtray.com. Travis Kiefer and CREATE of Aberdeen are also developing an electronic version of NebTray, which includes some additional features like a caregiver app and a sensor that sends out an alert if medications aren’t being taken properly. Susan says the support she’s received from the Aberdeen community has made her venture possible. She’s had people pitch in to help with marketing, business strategies, grant applications, and social media management. Her advice to other area entrepreneurs? “If you have an idea but don’t know where to start, there are so many resources here and people who want to see your business succeed. I’d be nowhere without my team of advisors, they’re amazing.” // — Jenny Roth

 To learn more about NebTray visit their website or email susan@nebtray.com.

add a hot food option, serving Mexican fare such as carnitas and barbacoa. The store, located at 1111 6th Avenue

SW, is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. // — Jenny Roth

 Susan Evans is the creator of NebTray, an organizational tool that helps patients keep track

Photo by Troy McQuillen

Photo by Jenny Roth

 Ana Irene Aguilar and Jose Salas are the owners of Dulce’s Hispanic Store on Sixth Avenue.

JULY & AUGUST

ICE CREAM SOCIAL & FAMILY MUSIC FEST

July 21, 1:00 PM

Granary Rural Cultural Center

Free

 Ice cream and all the fixings topped off with a family-friendly concert by Rockin’ Red and Magic Joe. Set in the beautiful Granary Rural Cultural Center’s outdoor campus.

PUTTIN’ FOR PAWS

July 27, 11:00 AM

Rolling Hills Golf Club

STAR SPANGLED SHOWDOWN

July 3, 7:30 PM

Brown County Speedway

Tickets at browncountyspeedway1.com

 Take in a spectacular fireworks display at the speedway, preluded by the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Series with NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

July 11 & August 2, 6:00 PM

Main Street

Free

 What you’ll need: a lawn chair, your family, and an empty stomach. Gates open at 6:00 with food vendors ready to serve dinner, live music to follow at 7:00.

KUHNERT ARBORETUM STAR PARTIES

July 12 & August 9, Dusk

Kuhnert Arboretum

Free

 Dedicate an evening to observing the moon, stars, and planets in our night sky. Call the Aberdeen Parks & Rec at 626-7015 to sign up.

MONSTER TRUCKS AND THRILL SHOW

July 27, 7:30 PM

Brown County Speedway

Tickets at monstertruckthunder.ticketleap.com

 A rip-roaring, action-packed event for monster truck fans. Includes Tuff Trucks, Quad Racers, and monster truck rides for the kids.

WYLIE PARK 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

July 4, 5:00 PM

Wylie Park

Free

 An all-evening Independence Day celebration that includes a performance by the Storybook Land Theatre, Aqua Addicts Water Ski Show, Duck Derby, concert, and fireworks at dusk.

MELGAARD PARK FUN RUNS

July 10 & August 7, 7:00 PM

Melgaard Park

$3/Person or $5/Family

 Enjoy a recreational run along the scenic trail by Moccasin Creek. For runners of all ages and levels of competition.

SUMMER CRAZY DAYS

July 13, 10:00 AM

Downtown Aberdeen

Free

 This summer shopping experience is packed with crazygood deals, not to mention delicious food, music, and activities for the kids.

FARMERS MARKET, KIDS ACTIVITIES & CONCERTS

Thursdays, July 11 - August 8, 4:00 PM

Melgaard Park

Free

 Come for the Farmers Market, then stay for an outdoor concert by the Aberdeen Municipal Band at 7:00. Free crafts and games for the kids take place right before the show.

STORYBOOK LAND FESTIVAL

July 19, 6:30 PM & July 20, 10:00 AM

Storybook Land

Free

 Celebrate summer with the best things from childhood: books, characters, ice cream, and the movies. Featuring author Jean L.S. Patrick, plus two days of live music, theater performances, and more.

Tickets at www.anewleashonlife.net

 Eighteen-hole, four-person golf scramble to benefit the Aberdeen Area Humane Society. Meal, golf cart, and raffle prizes included.

BROWN COUNTY FAIR

August 12-18

Brown County Fairgrounds

Free Admission

 There’s no week like fair week, so make sure you head to the Brown County Fairgrounds for music, food, carnival rides, and fun. A full schedule of events is at www.brown.sd.us/brown-countyfair/home

SIZZLIN’ SUMMER NIGHTS

BLUES, BREWS & BBQ

July 27, 11:00 AM

Centennial Village, Brown County Fairgrounds

Free Will Donation

 The main course at this Aberdeen rib fest is a delectable selection of ribs, brisket, and pork. Served with a heaping side of blues and jazz music.

August 23, 6:00 PM & August 24, 4:00 PM

Downtown Aberdeen Free

 The region’s largest car and bike show kicks off with a free concert, food vendors, and beer garden on Friday, August 23. Saturday is the finale when over 200 cars and motorcycles line Main Street.

HAPPINESS IN COLOR

Molly Hornaman paints the world with joy

by JENNY ROTH

It’s difficult to write about Molly Hornaman using a plain, black font. A colorful pen would do her bright personality more justice. If you’ve met Molly, you know her laugh comes easy and her smile is ear-to-ear. And when she talks about the things that matter to her the most — family, animals, her career, and painting—her whole face lights up. Her artwork is like a love note to color and, in true Molly fashion, most everything she creates is made to bring a little happiness into someone else’s day.

Molly has been painting and doing one art project or another for most of her life, a knack she likely picked up at a young age from being in 4-H and watching two of her aunts work as professional artists. Her first public art show, “Color Me Happy,” is on display during the month of July at Presentation College’s Wein Gallery. Just like its name implies, the show is full of both color and cheer. She says, “It’s a great show for kids, too, because it’s very colorful and fun with a lot of animals.” Dogs and cats, including Spirit, PC’s St. Bernard mascot, are center stage in “Color Me Happy,” along with the occasional giraffe

and elephant sprinkled into the mix. Molly calls these pet portraits “Pico paintings” as a tribute to the chihuahua who started it all. She explains, “A close friend lost her chihuahua, Pico, and she was so sad. I wanted to do something to cheer her up, so I painted him and sent it to her and she called me crying and said, ‘I love this so much.’ After that, I started doing more paintings for people whose pets had passed away.”

That was three years ago. Since then, Molly has turned the front entryway of her home into an art studio and has completed well over 100 Pico paintings of dogs and cats. Most people hear about her paintings through word of mouth, with her most popular being a 12 x 12 portrait for $100. The keepsakes aren’t just for those who have lost a pet though. “Some people want to have a painting while they still have their pets around because they’re obsessed with their dogs, like me,” she laughs. Molly’s own four-legged best friend, Brinkley, has been an active volunteer in Aberdeen for over a decade. Every week, Molly brings him

“To know I can make somebody else’s day by giving them a painting of a dog they loved—that’s the best.”

Photo by Troy McQuillen

 Artist Molly Hornaman poses in her art studio with her dog Brinkley.

to Prairie Heights Healthcare, where she and the 13-year-old Maltipoo spend a few hours going room to room visiting residents. She says despite battling some recent health issues, Brinkley is still a regular and a big celebrity at Prairie Heights. “He loves people, and you can tell the residents that like dogs really light up when he comes in.” For residents who have been at the nursing and rehabilitation center for a long time, Brinkley has become a welcome friend. “They’ll say, ‘That’s my dog,’ and he kind of is everyone’s dog there because he knows them so well,” she explains.

Just last year, Molly won a national Division Champion of Caring award for the duo’s visits. Along with volunteering at Prairie Heights with Brinkley, she works at the facility as a physical therapist assistant. When asked what is one of her biggest achievements so far, she is quick to mention how much she has enjoyed being at her job for the past 14 years. “When you see somebody come in who can’t stand or is non-weight bearing and then you watch them walk out the door a couple

LOCAL ART GALLERIES

WEIN GALLERY

Presentation College

1500 North Main Street 605-229-8349

Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM

PRESIDENT’S GALLERY, JFAC GALLERY AND STUDENT CENTER GALLERY

Northern State University

1200 South Jay Street

605-626-7766

President’s Gallery: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM, JFAC Gallery: Mon-Fri 8 AM-4:30 PM, Student Center: Mon-Fri 7 AM-4:30 PM and weekends 1-9 PM

LAMONT GALLERY

Dacotah Prairie Museum

21 South Main Street 605-626-7117

Tues-Fri 9 AM-5 PM, Sat and Sun 1-4 PM

ARTWORKS CO-OP GALLERY

of months later, that’s very rewarding. I love helping people.”

Seeing how Molly dedicates her career and volunteer time to caring for others, it’s no surprise her paintings do the same. She says, “To know I can make somebody else’s day by giving them a painting of a dog they loved— that’s the best.” Where does her compassion for people come from? The Aberdeen native credits her parents and family. She says her mom, a nurse, and dad, who worked for the post office, taught her and her three sisters to always look out for people and also to have a strong faith. Her twin sister, Jennifer Phillips, made the felt, leather, and paper flowers placed throughout her art show display, where all the animals are named after flowers.

Painting has also become a way for Molly to step back from work and life and do a little bit of self-care, too. “It relaxes me, it’s my stress reliever. I’ll turn my music on, turn on my lights in my studio so it’s nice and bright, and open the windows and let the fresh air in and spend the day painting,” she says. As a selftaught artist, she doesn’t mind learning as she goes. “I’m experimenting with shading and different things and getting a niche for it. It’s really been a lot of fun.” //

 To reach Molly or to see more of her artwork, find her on Facebook.

Aberdeen Mall 3315 6th Ave SE Suite #48 605-725-0913

Thurs-Sat 11-6 PM & Sun 12-6 PM or by appointment

JANE WEST GALLERY

Capitol Theatre

415 South Main Street 605-225-2228

Open during events, call ahead for additional hours of operation

ARCC GALLERY

Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center 225 3rd Ave SE 605-626-7081

Mon-Thurs 9 AM-8 PM, Fri 9 AM-5 PM and Sat 10 AM-12 PM

RED ROOSTER COFFEE HOUSE

GALLERY 218 South Main Street 605-225-6603

Mon-Thurs 7 AM-7 PM, Fri 7 AM-9 PM and Sat 8 AM-9 PM Sun 9 AM-2 PM

Images courtesy of Molly Hornaman

DESIGNING DREAMS THEIR

by JENNY ROTH

As garden and landscape experts, you’d expect Christo and Charlene deVilliers to love plants. After all, that’s where they first met in 2006—while both working for the same greenhouse in Aberdeen. Their joke is, “We met in the petunia patch,” and soon after they were married and starting their own business together. That business, Designs deVilliers, is all about flowers, gardens, and making yards beautiful. For two people who spend their time growing things, the deVilliers talk a lot about how it isn’t really the plants that make their work worthwhile; it’s the people. Christo says, “For me, the best advertisement we can get is when we work for someone and they become a repeat customer and also trust us enough to recommend us to others. The success of a business really depends on its customers.”

Charlene is quick to agree, “We’ve had some really wonderful clients over the years who have gone the extra mile in sharing about what we do with their friends and helping us get started that way.”

Throughout the last decade, the couple has been slowly adding new things every year to enhance their business, building everything themselves. They work together, but not necessarily side by side. Christo designs and installs landscaping and does mowing with a small staff that consists of himself, one regular employee, and the occasional seasonal help. Meanwhile, Charlene and her team of three women take care of yards—cleaning them up in the spring,

planting the gardens and pots, maintaining them in the summer, cutting everything back in the fall, and putting up holiday lights and decorations. Once finished with those projects for the day, she heads back to the couple’s acreage just southwest of Aberdeen to tend their on-site greenhouse. She says out of all the things she does, being here is her favorite. “We really just jumped into the greenhouse and learned how to manage it as we went. Every year it’s getting easier, and every year we get busier.” After spending hours upon hours researching what to plant, the deVilliers choose which options they’ll offer their customers, but first, they plant them on their own

Christo and Charlene deVilliers are planting an outdoor retreat near Aberdeen

“We really just jumped into the greenhouse and learned how to manage it as we went.”

Photos by Troy McQuillen

 Christo and Charlene deVilliers stand inside their greenhouse south of Aberdeen.

property. Charlene explains, “We want to see how well they really do in this climate— how hardy they are, before we tell other people to plant them.” If someone comes to the greenhouse looking for a unique plant that they don’t have, Charlene adds they’re always ready to roll up their sleeves and find it.

Maybe it’s because it’s at their home, or maybe it’s all the attention to detail they’ve put into it by placing every rock and plant on the property with care, but whatever the reason, the greenhouse has become more than a place to simply buy your plants. Charlene says, “Especially on weekends—whether they’re on a little road trip with their friends or just getting out of town for the day—people will come, look at the plants, and then just spend the afternoon here hanging out together outside. Almost every day we meet someone at the greenhouse who hasn’t been here before.” Recognizing that people enjoy being outside and spending time at their place sparked an idea for their next venture—putting in a winery. It’s in the beginning phases of construction now, but Christo says they envision a place where “customers can relax, have a glass of wine or do wine tasting if they want, or just sit outside with their families and watch their kids play.” They’ll specialize in South African wines, specifically De Villiers Wines, which have been made by farmers in Christo’s family for hundreds of years. The couple is excited to be adding this new

element to their business while growing in other areas as well. Right now Charlene decorates for one wedding per year, and she hopes their property can someday be a regular wedding venue, along with the winery and greenhouse.

It’s no doubt the deVilliers put in long work hours. However, they’ve found that if you’re doing something you love to do, then putting in the time it takes to create a company from the ground up is completely worth it. Christo says, “For me coming from South Africa—things are tougher there, so I can see how easy it is to make a living here if you have the motivation and the passion to do something.” Charlene tells a story about when she realized her job felt more like fun than a job. “I was driving home from working in a yard at 10:30 at night, and I passed someone I knew who was also coming home from work and I thought, ‘That poor person is just getting done with work.’ And then it hit me, ‘Oh my gosh, I guess so am I!’”

She laughs, “But it just doesn’t feel like work to me.”

While they’re always cultivating new ideas based on what their customers are asking for, Christo and Charlene want Designs deVilliers to stay at a scale small enough for them to manage on their own. Charlene says, “We tried to have more employees and take on more jobs in the past, but decided we want it to be at a level where we can complete the projects ourselves. It’s more personal that way, and our customers are people, not just numbers.” Christo agrees, “Every day is a challenge and every day is different, and we really enjoy that.”

 The greenhouse at Designs deVilliers, located at 37948 138th Street, is open seven days a week. For more information, check out www.designsdevilliers.com

 The deVilliers do landscaping, seasonal planting and decorating, and yard clean-up and maintenance.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

A SEA OF GRASS & SKY

DON’T LET THIS SUMMER PASS YOU BY WITHOUT A VISIT TO ONE OF OUR REGION’S BEST-KEPT SECRETS: THE SAMUEL H. ORDWAY, JR. MEMORIAL PRESERVE

by JENNY ROTH

Prairies seem to be everywhere in these parts. But if you’re only glancing at them through the window of your vehicle, you’re truly missing out on one of the most complex and beautiful ecosystems on the planet.

Just under 50 miles northwest of Aberdeen along Highway 10 lies the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Preserve. Nicknamed the Ordway Prairie, it’s a vast 7,800-acre grassland that seems to roll right up and touch the sky. It’s also home to a herd of 300 or so bison, as well as coyotes, foxes, badgers, a lively colony of ground squirrels, and a diverse collection of birds. And people are welcome, too. About 160 acres have been sectioned off as a visitor’s area. Here, guests can wander through the wildflowers, look closely at

the insects, or listen for the calls of the meadowlarks. If you want more direction, the staff at the preserve are happy to organize educational outings for whatever your group is interested in, whether that’s birdwatching or identifying flowers. For Sportsmen, they have walk-in areas that are open during hunting seasons.

One thing that makes the Ordway Prairie so special is how its conservation efforts line up seamlessly with a common land use for this area. Mary Miller of Leola has managed the preserve for close to 20 years. She says taking care of the prairie all comes down to maintaining diversity among the plants that grow on it. “It’s a chain reaction because different insects like to eat different plants, and different birds eat different insects, so if you lose that diversity in the plants, it affects everything out here.” There are several

“There are moments out here that make you really appreciate this country and how unique it is.”

 Over 300 bison live northwest of Aberdeen on the Ordway Prairie.

 Mary Miller has managed the Ordway Prairie for nearly 20 years.

invasive, nonnative species that threaten to out-compete and overrun the native plants. Grazing is one way to control this. When animals eat the grass, they naturally cut back the taller, invasive types that are overgrowing, allowing more sunlight to filter through to the low-growing species so they can survive as well. Mary explains, “Bison roamed the prairie for years, grazing and following fire and providing that natural disturbance the plants and animals here need. Today, we have cattle that can do that, and people can make a living raising cattle, so it’s a win-win.” Their resident bison herd grazes about half of the preserve, while they rent the remaining portion to a handful of local cattle ranchers. Funds earned from renting pastures to farmers and from producing buffalo meat are put back into supporting the preserve’s research and conservation efforts.

While it might appear flat and even from a distance, the Ordway Prairie is full of over 400 deep and shallow depressions that make up a rich wetland environment among the grasslands. Some of these “prairie potholes” are full only during wet years or in the spring. Others keep water year round. Just like having a variety of plants is important, having many wetland options is too. Mary says, “This whole area is known as the Duck Factory of North America because it turns out so many ducks for the whole continent. Since birds use the different kinds of wetlands during different points in their lifecycles, our diversity in wetlands contributes to the diversity in our wetland birds.”

Mary and David Losure are the only fulltime employees at the Ordway Preserve. Many volunteers also help it operate, from undergraduate and graduate students to retired couples who’ve fallen in love with the prairie. Mary started coming to Ordway right after college as a seasonal

SAVING OUR PRAIRIES

How the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Preserve was

Founded

Ordway Prairie is just one piece of land out of many protected worldwide by The Nature Conservancy. This nonprofit has several local chapters, including one in South Dakota.

helper in the summertime and jokes that she just kept coming back until they hired her as manager. She says, “Prairies are misunderstood. People drive by them and don’t even know what’s out there, and it’s definitely a system where you have to get out of your car and walk through it to really appreciate it.” She adds, “There are moments out here that make you really appreciate this country and how unique it is. We’ve had groups of businessmen and women, who probably normally wear suits every day, out here crawling around looking for bugs under rocks like they’re five years old again. That we’re able to offer that to people and have them learn about the prairie that way, that’s really the most special to me.” //

 More information about the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Preserve can be found at www.nature.org, www.facebook.com/natureconservancysouthdakota, or by emailing Mary Miller at mmiller@tnc.org.

In the 1940s, Thomas Boylan moved to what is now the Ordway Prairie. He operated a cattle ranch on the land for many years before age prompted him to sell the property in the early ‘70s. LeRoy Hoffman, a farmer from the Long Lake area, purchased the acreage from Thomas with a promise that he’d keep the land in one piece. He ran cattle on the prairie for several years, while also maintaining his regular farm and running for governor. LeRoy’s son, Charlie Hoffman, says, “In around 1977 or 1978, I was about a senior in high school, and I remember my dad would get up at 4:30 AM, put coveralls on over his suit, go to the Ordway land and check through cattle and fences, and then drive to Eureka, take off his coveralls, and sing in the choir at church.” His other commitments convinced LeRoy it was time to sell the land, but he knew if it went to auction it would likely be divided among several people and into several pieces.

Luckily, at this same time Katharine Ordway from St. Paul, MN, a long-time prairie devotee and nature conservationist, began donating money to The Nature Conservancy to acquire prairie lands for preservation. One of these was the Ordway Prairie, which is named after Katharine’s cousin, Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. According to an article written by Bonnie Blodgett in 2012 for the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, “Less than 1 percent of what had been 15 billion acres of prairie remained when Ordway began cobbling together her network of preserves.”

LeRoy was able to keep his word and keep the land in one chunk. And thanks to Katharine Ordway and The Nature Conservancy, the rest of us have a native prairie in our backyard still today. //

 Ordway Prairie volunteers and staff members set out to identify as many bird species as possible during their 2019 Bird Blitz.

 Conservation specialist Korey Schroeder shares a wildlife close-up.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

Summertime Blues

A HOME REMODEL WITH STAYCATION-WORTHY STYLE

by DEANN REIF, Design Consultant at Ultimate Kitchen & Bath photos by TROY MCQUILLEN

his spring, we transformed a 1980s-style ranch house on Richmond Lake into a modernday retreat.

The kitchen, which had once been closed off to a view of the water, was a central focus for the homeowners. To create an open feel, we started by removing the peninsula and cabinet overhang between the kitchen and former dining room. We then added two full walls of cabinets and a large island for prepping, cooking, baking, and dining. While this island provides enough seating for their immediate family, the homeowners also have a breakfast nook to act as an overflow area for guests. Additionally, we removed another wall between the stairwell and kitchen to open the space up even further and connect it with the breakfast nook and living room.

The rest of the main floor, consisting of a half bath, master bath and bedroom, living area, and laundry room, received updates ranging from a fresh coat of paint to a complete overhaul. With a contemporary floor plan and serene color palette, this home is now ready to host summertime fun at the lake! //



The finished kitchen includes new, white painted cabinets, smoky gray quartz countertops, new appliances, white millwork and doors, wood look and water friendly flooring, and a ceramic tile backsplash.

 “After” picture of the half bath.

 Coordinated accessories and furniture set the tone.

 Breakfast nook by morning, game room by night!

 “Before” pictures of the kitchen and half bath on the main floor.

 An electric fireplace was added, along with a new mantel. The fireplace and surrounding wood paneling were also painted to tie in with the rest of the home.

 A window and door in the kitchen were replaced with one large patio door to the deck to enhance the lake view from the heart of the home.

 Close-ups of details like backsplashes and accessories.

The Doctor Is On

Doc Sebastian shares the art (and science) behind a career in radio.

by PATRICK GALLAGHER

ow many guys do you know who do 15 hours of work a day, can be in three places at one time, and still get in a round of golf? A guy would have to be some kind of witch doctor to pull that off. Cue Hub City Radio announcer Doc Sebastian—even though he’s not working as hard as he did when he started in radio 40 years ago. The secret lies in the reason he doesn’t call himself a DJ anymore.

It’s not such a surprise that Doc ended up in radio, even if it was by accident. Like most late baby boomers, he used to listen to radio all night—Top 40 AM stations from across the country like WLS in Chicago, KOMA in Oklahoma City, WOW in Omaha, and others. He laments, “There aren’t any more of those 50,000-watt stations that covered a dozen states.” But Doc listened a little differently from most. He says, “I remember a Chicago DJ that would play a 45-rpm record (author’s note: look it up) then give it away. I focused on how the music was presented by the guy on the air.”

Plus, he was a natural with a microphone. In high school at Aberdeen Central, he did the announcements after lunch on the PA system. Sometimes, he did his impression of the iconic DJ Wolfman Jack (look him up). A teacher once caught him in the hall afterwards and told him he should be in radio. Doc had never thought about radio as a profession, but it came to pass only a few months after graduation.

In the fall of 1978, he went to the National College of Business in Rapid City to be an accountant (even though the dad of his future Hub City colleague Scott Solberg had failed him in accounting at CHS). That career path lasted nine weeks. At home over Christmas break, he broke his ankle playing basketball and didn’t go back to school. When he got his cast off, he interviewed at KKAA-AM, the country station in Aberdeen that his dad listened to. In fact, his dad saw the ad and suggested he apply. “He was trying to get me out of the house,” Doc explains. He got the job, the overnight DJ shift, which was ironic because Doc hated country music. The first

song he ever played on the air was “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers. He ended up moving to the earlier night shift, replacing a guy who got fired for playing the Doobie Brothers instead of country.

After about a year at KKAA, he worked at a Rapid City station for a few months before following a couple of his bosses to Wyoming to start a station. One of his most vivid memories is the night in 1980 that John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles (look them up), was murdered. Doc was on the air, and the news came in on the AP wire as “John Lennon has been shot.” He waited 20 minutes for more news. “We didn’t have a TV in the studio then, and it took forever to get the rest of the story.” So he put on Lennon’s song “Imagine” and played the Beatles the rest of the night.

In 1983, he came back to Aberdeen and started at KSDN as the afternoon drive DJ.

“It was very different from how things work now,” he says. “It was all live. You played records and sat in the booth listening to the song—whether you liked it or not. Nobody knows what that is anymore.” He’s thinking as much of his radio colleagues as his listeners, but more on that later.

Always envisioning himself as a West Coast DJ, he sent audition tapes in that direction and took a job in Oregon. After three months, however, the station changed its format and dropped him. “That experience kind of left a bad taste in my mouth—not about the art of radio, but the business of radio,” he says.

The next decade or so solidified that sense that on-air radio isn’t always a stable career. After getting married in Groton, Doc lived in Denver for a while, where “I did some radio part time, but mostly other jobs.” Back to Aberdeen, and Doc got on

 Hub City Radio announcer Doc Sebastian is on the Aberdeen airwaves 15 hours a day on three different stations.

Photos by Troy McQuillen

Aberdeen Aquatic Center

KSDN again, but the ownership changes in Aberdeen radio of the era messed with his career, and he ended up out of radio once more. He worked various jobs but kept waiting for an opportunity to get back in radio, although he grins, “Most smart people would have found something else.” Eventually, he found his way to Hub City Radio in 2002. Doc Sebastian was back on the Aberdeen airwaves.

Doug Swanson doesn’t remember exactly when he became “Doc Sebastian,” but “Everybody in radio had a different on-air name when I started. Now, almost everyone uses their real name.” His dad had called him “Doc” when he was little, which he figures came from “What’s up, Doc?” from the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Plus, there were other “Docs” and “Sebastians” in radio, so they were familiar names. Also, “The initials were the same for both names, and my signature looks the same for either name,” he laughs. “Today, a lot of people I work with don’t know my real name. People will call the station to ask for Doug and get told no one by that name works there.”

he explains. “I plug the songs into the computer, and it arranges them and tells me when I need to talk to fill space.” He adds, “I prefer less talk. My idea is shut up and play a song. After all, it’s a music station.” The voice tracking has led to amusing situations. He’s been on the golf course or at family barbecues when his voice came on the radio, and people stared at him blankly wondering how he was doing it.

Producing seven hours of music in 20 minutes means you’re not hearing any of the songs you’re “playing.” “That’s why I don’t call myself a DJ anymore,” Doc says. “There are no discs anymore. The music is all digital.” More than once, he’s heard songs for the first time while driving in his car months after he announced them on the radio.

Wylie Park

Four decades creates a lot of memories: interviewing Willie Nelson as a teenage radio announcer, the racist tirade he got from a caller angry that he’d played African American singer Anita Baker on the air, the time he fell asleep on air at 6:30 AM after an all-night station New Year’s Eve Party (the only listener at that time was the guy on the air before him, who heard the dead air and called in). Among many celebrities Doc met, one of the most special to him was former Twins play-by-play announcer John Gordon, whom he visited with on the air weekly during baseball season. Doc was one of only about a dozen local announcers (out of about 200 affiliates) that Gordon invited to his retirement party at Target Field.

Weather has impacted his career significantly too. “I’ve been stuck overnight in the station during a few blizzards— including my daughter’s fourth birthday in 1997. I was stuck in there overnight and all the next day.” He was also stranded there on a Christmas night a few years ago. Summers had their problems too. During a tornado, he remembers going out the back door of the station and seeing a grain bin rolling toward him. It hit the tower guide wires and stopped.

Now, he’s on the Hub City airwaves 15 hours a day on three different stations. He does three hours live on KSDN weekdays 6:00-9:00 AM, plus five recorded hours— “voice track”—on 97.7, and seven recorded hours on 94.1. “It takes about 20 minutes to put together the seven-hour show,”

No discs, all digital and computerized— as he says, “It’s not the art of radio anymore, it’s the science. That’s not necessarily bad, but it’s different.” The experience of the art is invaluable, however. In the old style of being a DJ, “It was your job to be sure the flow was there, moving from music to your voice and back to music. You got more into the show.” Having done it the old way is helpful in doing voice track because he has a better sense of the rhythm and how to make the transitions sound right. “For example, if you’re coming out of a fast-tempo song, your voice should sound different than coming out of a ballad. Since you’re not hearing the song in this approach, experience helps.” Especially, he says, “If you’re recording the Sunday morning show on Thursday afternoon!” He’s about the only announcer in town (maybe the only one) who has experience doing live music radio.

When asked about the future of radio in a digital world, Doc has a blunt but basically optimistic observation. “Twinkies, cockroaches, and local radio will survive,” he says. “The future of radio is local—more local content. The local guy talking about the snow we just had. You need to touch the local.” Spotify isn’t going to tell you about the hailstorm moving through Mansfield.

Despite the technological advances, the Doc formerly known as a DJ, who hasn’t played a disc on the air in two decades, remembers DJs he heard on those bigcity AM stations in the 1970s. “Those guys were good at seeming to be talking to me, and that’s what I try to bring to the job.” It must be working, or those guys on the golf course wouldn’t get confused about how the Doc on the green is also on the radio talking to me. //

“The future of

more

chic CASUALLY

SEVEN COOL WAYS TO DRESS UP A T-SHIRT

by STEPHANIE LUDENS and TROY MCQUILLEN clothing, shoes, and accessories by WANDERLUST BOUTIQUE models KATIE MAGERA, EMILEE JOHNSON, GAMEILLIA BECKER, EMILY MAGERA, LORETTA SIMON, KENDRA KRANZ, and GABRIELLE ZIMMERMAN

1Pair it with Boardwalk pants. Like these mustard-colored ones that are perfect for daytime to date night. Also on Katie are Athena striped slides, a black tribal wristlet, and a lead by faith bracelet.

photographs

It’s the age-old dilemma every woman has faced. Should you wear the t-shirt supporting your favorite sport or athlete? Or forgo the frumpy, oversized look for something more feminine. True, many pro shops carry lines of jerseys and shirts styled for women, but that doesn’t help the average gal who wants to cheer on her local team and only has a one-size-fits-all option. Luckily, Wanderlust Boutique has seven simple tricks anyone can do to spice up a basic t-shirt. Stay glued to these pages of our photoshoot at the Brown County Speedway to see their style tips in action. // — Jenny Roth

 Thank you to Kent Arment, Josh Skorczewski, Chad Becker, WISSOTA, and the Brown County Speedway for donating the t-shirts for this photoshoot.

Accessorize with wedges and a wristlet.

Make the cut. For Gabrielle’s V-neck design, find the center of the shirt and measure down about four inches from the neckband. Then, fold the shirt in half and cut diagonally up to the neckline and at the top of the V. Stretch fabric slightly.

Below, Loretta wears her t-shirt with a Bella wedge and pink peony wristlet.

Add a jacket. On Emily is a Not Your Boyfriend’s Jean Jacket, worn with an olive C.C. Pony cap and Beautiful Boundaries ear jacket earrings.

Go off the shoulder. To get Emilee’s outfit, cut the shoulder seam first then measure both sides to make sure they’re even. Next, stretch the fabric a bit and add a black bralette underneath.

6Show off in shades. Kendra wears hers with Judy Blue shorts, a camouflage C.C. Pony cap, and black leather teardrop earrings.

 The girls cheer for their favorite drivers.

 Loretta in Aspen jeggings and a C.C. Pony cap, Katie, and Gameillia enjoy treats from the concession stand.

 Emilee in black KanCan jeans, Emily in motto jeggings, and Gameillia in a tied and cut t-shirt design.

 Wristlets in yellow arrow, black Kate Spade, and black tribal.

 Emilee’s shirt was cut to make it off the shoulder and to show her black bralette.

 Katie models a WISSOTA shirt next to their banner.

 The girls take a selfie to capture the moment with a Wanderlust Boutique phone case.

Complement with KanCans. Gameillia models Bell of the Ball KanCan jeans, a nude bralette, and vintage sunnies.

Harmetta

The Pickerel Lake Ghost

by KEN KIRKPATRICK

n the summer of 1953, the boys at the YMCA’s Camp Wisagoma on Pickerel Lake were enjoying their evenings singing camp songs, performing skits, and hearing stories while gathered around the campfires. They were probably about nine years old, and they always asked for some ghost stories. In response, my cousin Chuck Kirkpatrick, who was the senior camp counselor, told them the Harmetta story.

As he told it, Harmetta was the ghost of a woman who had lived near the lake and had always been considered very strange. After her mysterious death, there were rumors that her ghost was sometimes seen around the lake and that she actually lived in the lake. Her ghost was frightening in appearance, with very long, very sharp fingernails. She was known to catch young boys, cut a circle in their chests with her sharp fingernails, and then pick out their hearts and eat them.

Chuck told this story with great enthusiasm, and the boys were spellbound by his telling.

After the story, he scheduled a hike to the area where Harmetta had reportedly been seen. He questioned the boys to be sure they wanted to go and, predictably, they were very brave and eager to go. As it began to get dark, Chuck once again gave the boys the option of staying behind, but of course they were all too brave. Using flashlights, they started their hike along the northwest corner of the lake, north of what is now the

quite a ways, and I went about 40 yards out to where it was about five feet deep. I then put on my dive mask and snorkel, piled seaweed on my head and arms, tied the anchor rope around my waist, and grabbed my deer antler fingernails to get ready for my ghostly appearance. When the campers were within shouting distance, I let out a loud shriek and pulled myself under water with my anchor rope (the snorkel was too small to be seen from

gave my best blood-curdling scream. I could hear the campers shouting, “There she is, there she is!” And all their flashlights quickly focused on me. I then began splashing my way toward them in a deliberate manner while screaming and with my arms outstretched. My anchor was not heavy, so I could drag it along with no problem. When the campers realized there really was something frightening coming from out of the lake right at them, the gravity of the situation sank in. The flashlights suddenly turned away from me and onto the hiking trail as the boys took off high tailing it toward the safety of the camp, shouting as they ran.

This kind of teenage boy prank would probably be too scary today, but Chuck and I were quite proud that we had managed to pull it off so successfully several times for two summers. The campers who were there and saw “Harmetta” are now about 65, and some still tell the legend of Harmetta, The Pickerel Lake Ghost. //

 Ken Kirkpatrick, part-time Pickerel Lake Ghost.

Photo provided by Ken Kirkpatrick

A History of Camp Wisagoma

by JENNY ROTH

hen Ken Kirkpatrick sent us his story about Harmetta, The Pickerel Lake Ghost, we asked on the “You know you’re from Aberdeen, South Dakota, if…” Facebook group if anyone had witnessed Chuck and Ken’s escapades or otherwise heard of this campfire legend. We almost immediately received close to 75 responses! As it turns out, “Harmetta” frightened Camp Wisagoma youth for decades. Campers from the 1960s all the way through the 1990s chimed in with their memories of the tale. The story seems to vary slightly among generations, no doubt the result of being depicted a bit differently by each camp counselor who told it and added their own spin on the details.

What also emerged with these recollections was the history of Camp Wisagoma. The camp dates back to 1928, when a private resident donated 11 waterfront acres on Pickerel Lake to the YMCA. Roughly 30 campers slept in tents that first year, as cabins hadn’t yet been built. In fact, construction was an integral part of the camp’s activities in those days. An American News insert from 2001 featuring the YMCA reprinted an interview with Reedy Fossum and Roger Birdseye, two campers who were there in 1928. They shared that when they weren’t

hiking, swimming, and playing softball, they kept busy building the site’s dock. Campfire stories were a big hit from day one, and Birdseye remembered ghost stories and pranks orchestrated by the camp counselors. The following year, four cabins, each capable of sleeping eight people, were built at the camp by a handful of Aberdeen service clubs.

Camp Wisagoma continued every summer until World War 11, when food and gas rationing forced them to be inactive from 1942 to 1947. Afterward, the YMCA had the chance to sell the site for $11,000, but Bob Johnston, the boy’s director for the Y, asked to run the camp for just one year first. They agreed, and the new camp director had his work cut out for him. He described to the American News how they

had to get the area back into working shape after it hadn’t been used for so long. “When we got out there for the first time that camping season, sunflowers were as tall as the cabins, mattresses were rotted.” They also lacked electricity and therefore working refrigerators. Johnston added, “We used 300 pounds of ice a day and we had to haul it from the south end of the lake to the camp area. We put the ice in a big old beer cooler so we could keep food cold. That summer we added electricity.”

The camp passed this year-long trial period, though, and the YMCA decided not to sell. Bob managed it for the next 10 years or so, including the summers of 1953 and 1954, when Chuck and Ken Kirkpatrick pulled off their Harmetta disguise. His wife Sally helped as the camp nurse, and the

 Campers row across Pickerel Lake in this undated photo of Camp Wisagoma.

 Left: Campers and staff members celebrate a birthday. Right: Bob Johnston and his wife Sally directed Camp Wisagoma for about a decade.

Photos courtesy of Susan Johnston

couple lived at the camp in the summer months. When their son Kerry joined the family, he got to grow up at Camp Wisagoma. He told the American News, “My dad took kids out there…most were underprivileged and couldn’t afford the camper fee, but he would get individual benefactors in town to help by giving a campership.” He continued, “The intent was to change kids’ lives, to do that you need to change their environment.” Going to camp was fun, but it also encouraged kids from different backgrounds to work

together. And at a time when there were fewer opportunities to go places or have experiences away from home, camp was the highlight of the summer.

Almost 50 years after its first season, Camp Wisagoma was still going strong. In 1976, Doug Card, a staff writer for the American News, listed “archery, riflery, swimming, canoeing, sailing, and various crafts,” as well as “overnight trips to Sieche [Sic] Hollow, Fort Sisseton, and other state parks,” as the main activities for the roughly 160 campers in attendance that year. Card added that the

fee for one week of camp was $50, and that many campers sold candy bars through the YMCA candy sale to earn their way, while others received camperships from local businesses and individuals. One mother who sent her son to Camp Wisagoma told Card the best part of camp was that it “just allows boys to be boys.”

As times began to change, more and more activities for kids—like sports camps and church camps—began popping up, and the demand for Camp Wisagoma changed too. The Y adapted for a while, adding a girl’s camp that eventually became a co-ed camp, and even swapping out their traditional agenda for history and computer camps. Even so, the enrollment numbers kept declining, and in 2003 the YMCA sold their property on Pickerel Lake for $2 million.

After a 75-year run, Camp Wisagoma came to an end. But maybe not. After all, people are still telling stories, ghostly or otherwise, and sharing their collected memories of the camp. As long as they do, Camp Wisagoma will continue to be a familiar name in the Aberdeen community for generations to come. //

 Thank you to Alice May of the Aberdeen Family YMCA and Susan Johnston for supplying resources and photos for this story.

 In 1950, members of the Kiwanis Club visited Camp Wisagoma and director Bob Johnston (center). The club sponsored many campers and furnished one of the camp’s cabins.

THE BOYS OF THE SUMMER OF ’42

THE PILOTS OF THE FLYING COFFINS OF WORLD WAR II

by MIKE MCCAFFERTY

In 1933, Adolf Hitler was declared Chancellor of Germany and became head of the Nazi Party. By 1939, he had become absolute ruler, commanding his military to invade Poland in his first step toward world domination. In May 1940 he invaded France, bringing Great Britain into the fray, as they had been France’s ally since the 1850s. In May 1941, he invaded the island of Crete, using gliders to transport troops in a highly efficient and effective manner. In June 1941 he invaded Russia, who up to that point had been an ally of Germany, because of Russia’s invasion of the Baltic states. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, declaring war on the United States after the fact. Four days later, on December 11, 1941, Hitler declared war on the United States, who reciprocated with their own declaration of war on Germany. The lines were drawn, and the stage was set for a true world war.

Starting in 1942, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, began planning the ground war in Europe. They were both convinced that the only way to victory was to amass an overwhelming assault force of Allied troops that would storm the coast of France in one big, mighty push. The assault would be a highly complicated operation involving a large amphibious attack force combined with two aerial attack components behind enemy lines: paratroopers and glider transports of troops and equipment (based on Germany’s success in invading Crete).

Glider production and glider pilot training began in earnest in the spring of 1942. By that summer, there were four regional glider training programs across the United States. The Central Flying Training Command, 31st Flying Training Wing, consisted of 22 active flying units and 11 training schools, one of which was hosted by the city of Aberdeen. This is their story.

THE ARMY AIR CORPS COMES TO TOWN

With America engaged in a world war, things changed drastically throughout the country. Men up to age 36 were enlisting

in various branches of the military, leaving families behind, while numerous materials needed for the war effort were being rationed.

Aberdeen, like every city in America, felt the loss of manpower and civilian industry due to wartime material restrictions. To fill these voids, the Aberdeen Civic Association formed a War Effort Committee to create new activities and projects. They had heard of the War Department’s plans for the Army Air Corps to train 3,000 glider pilots for commando raids, so they applied to be a training site. When it was announced that Aberdeen had been selected to host one of these contract schools, the city was elated. The school would be operational during the summer of 1942 and would run from June 1 through the end of August.

Shortly after the announcement was made to the public in the May 23, 1942, edition of the American News, the specifics of the training were provided. There would be two 10-week Class A courses for students with no flying experience, and a four-week, intensive Class B program for former aviation cadets with 50 or more hours of flight experience in Army or Navy planes and anyone else who had maintained a Civil Aeronautics Authority Airman Certificate. The plan was to train about 300 pilots ages 18 to 36 during this three-month period. The aviation cadets would be housed and fed at Northern State Teachers College, staying in Seymour Hall. Cadets would also take classes at Northern State in the areas of maintenance, instruments, navigation, meteorology, and chemical war defense and identification. College faculty members N.H. Mewaldt, Lloyd Johnson, George Schaunaman, Harold Jones, and Clarence Abeln would provide the classroom instruction. Anderson and Brennan Flying Service of Des Moines, Iowa, would provide the hands-on flight instruction. At first, the Aberdeen Municipal Airport was considered for the flight training portion, but it was soon determined that a more private, out-ofthe-way place would be established for the actual flight instruction. Four sections of farmland were leased by Brennan Flying Service to serve as the training base north and east of Aberdeen. One quarter was leased from the county and the rest from private landowners.

 An image from Wikipedia shows the Waco CG-4A, the most widely used American troop/ cargo military glider of World War II.

Colonel Harold A. Gunn, Army Air Corps, and Captain M.R. Halbouty, Air Corps Medical Section, both from Kelly Field, Texas, approved the base site. A large building was soon erected, along with waiting depots and other buildings. Brennan Flying Service provided 20 civilian flight instructors, 30 mechanics, and nine guards who stayed at the training base. The base was highly patrolled and off limits to unauthorized personnel. The Army provided 27 officers and enlisted men to supervise flying and ground school training activities at both sites and to coordinate transportation needs.

By June 1942, the American military had streamlined their design of a glider and settled upon the Waco CG-4A. It was a vast improvement of the previous prototypes, but was still a very lightweight, engineless plane made from plywood. It had no armor nor armaments at all. Along with the pilot, it could carry 13 loaded for bear troops. Because of its construction, it earned the nickname the “Flying Coffin.” It was usually towed by a C-47 cargo plane using 300 feet of a one-inch in diameter tow rope. When close to the landing zone, the glider would be released from the tow plane and drift silently to a nice landing at the target area. In theory. In reality, once released the glider pilot never really knew what to expect as it free floated. Each drop was a new experience, and a good landing was

one that people walked away from. Often times they did not, further reinforcing the nickname the “Flying Coffin.”

Because of the shortage of C-47s and actual gliders, cadets at the Aberdeen training facility learned their glider flying skills in a small airplane, rather than a glider, through a maneuver called a “dead-stick” landing. This involved the pilot taking a perfectly functioning airplane up to a desired altitude and intentionally turning off the power to the engine, forcing the pilot to try and glide the plane to a safe landing. The cadets trained using 54 airplanes ferried to the training base by the Army Air Corps Ferry Command. The training base airfield got its name of “Maytag Field” from the training cadets because they couldn’t tell the difference between the sound of these plane engines and the sound of a Maytag washing machine.

The men who came to this glider pilot training program were from all across the United States. They trained hard, but also looked for ways to relax. Mayor O.M. Tiffany urged the citizens of Aberdeen to welcome these men, and encouraged people to invite them into their homes for food and friendship. Aberdeen took his words to heart. To help them feel at home as much as possible, the community provided numerous recreational activities for both married couples and single men.

The old downtown YMCA building was open to these aviation cadets free of charge, courtesy of the Aberdeen Civic Association. A gathering place at the Y called “The Dugout” was also created. Dances were held here quite often, and the men could bring their wives or meet local women invited to attend by the Y. Other activities provided to the cadets by the community included volleyball and basketball leagues, swimming lessons, and dance lessons. Existing programs at the Y were moved to other spaces within the community so they could provide these activities to the cadets. Northern State Teachers College also held events and provided entertainment. The first dance for the cadets, a two-hour event, was held in the Spafford Hall gym, with local residents serving as hostesses and chaperones and providing the music. Aberdeen women also set up a sewing shop at Northern to mend the cadets’ clothing during several scheduled sessions during the summer.

There were two major events that occurred near the end of the threemonth glider training program that had a significant impact on Aberdeen. The first involved a fatal crash. A student pilot, Tech Sgt. Thomas F. Quilan, 27, of Los Angeles, California, and flight instructor R.P. McClure of Brennan Flying Service were killed when their training aircraft crashed in a stubble field 19 miles southeast

 The Beulah Williams Library at NSU has many items in its archives about the glider pilot training program. The material was provided by the late Evelyn Sapa, the widow of a glider pilot (See sidebar on page 42). The material includes several documents and a few photos, including these two. These photos were among others that featured Seymour Hall and servicemen, suggesting the collection of photos were all from Aberdeen. Therefore, it is assumed that these two pictures are of the 1942 airfield for Aberdeen’s glider pilot training program located somewhere northeast of Aberdeen. Thanks to archivist Steph Cossette at NSU’s Beulah Williams Library for allowing us access to this information.

of town on August 20, 1942. The cause of the accident was unknown, and this was the only serious mishap that occurred with the glider training detachment in Aberdeen.

Just four days later, a headline in the August 24, 1942, American News revealed another tragedy: “HUB SLAYING…Body of Girl, 19, Found in Creek Near Night Club.” A local girl, Dorothy Blair, had been missing for about a week. Her body was found floating in the early morning of Sunday, August 23, 1942, in Foote Creek behind The Last Roundup night club, located two miles southwest of Aberdeen. During an eighthour, intensive investigation, the crime was solved by local law enforcement. Robert Bruce Vanderwalker, a 21-year-old glider pilot, confessed to the slaying of Dorothy on the morning of August 18, 1942, after an all-night drinking binge.

The military was informed, and they immediately took Vanderwalker into custody. Elmer Thurow, Brown County state’s attorney, stated he would wait for the release of Corporal Vanderwalker to civil authorities, at which time he would file a charge of murder against him. Lieutenant R.W. Voigt, commanding officer of the air force glider training detachment, said he had contacted the Corps area headquarters at Omaha, Nebraska, to learn whether Vanderwalker would face a military court or be turned over to local authorities.

The Aberdeen glider pilot training school’s last date of operation was Saturday, August 29, 1942. As the detachment cleared out on Sunday and Monday, they left one of the students behind—Corporal Robert Bruce Vanderwalker. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter by local officials and the judge hearing the case sentenced the young man to 25 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. In an interesting turn of events, in August 1944 South Dakota Governor M.Q. Sharpe reduced the sentence of 25 years to 11 years as recommended by the state parole board, making Vanderwalker eligible for immediate parole.

With the closing of the school, the 54 aircrafts were flown to various other Army flight centers across the country. The ten frame buildings built at “Maytag Field” were sold to local residents. Of the 300 or so cadets stationed in Aberdeen, 80 percent completed the glider pilot training program here and went on to more advanced training and to serve in World War II as United States Army Air Corps glider pilots. But the legacy of Aberdeen’s glider pilot program, and the many other sister programs across the country, does not end here. This was only the beginning.

THE REST OF THE STORY

As these early glider pilots were being trained, Churchill and Roosevelt formulated a plan called “Operation Sledgehammer.” It was the first plan to invade northwest France and was scheduled for the spring of 1943. As the war progressed, so did the planning. Spring 1943 arrived, and both leaders agreed to delay their invasion plans because things didn’t feel quite right yet. Glider pilots continued to be trained and retrained. Finally, in early summer a decision was made to “test” the ability of their invasion forces by creating a diversionary campaign. In July 1943, U.S. and British forces invaded the island of Sicily using glider insertion of troops and equipment for the first time, and with great success, to complement the amphibious landing forces. Within two months Sicily was in Allied hands, so on September 3, 1943, they moved forward and invaded Italy.

Through the winter of 1943 and spring of 1944, Churchill and Roosevelt continued to revise their plan to invade France. The German command was now convinced that the main invasion force would come through Italy, since that is where General Patton’s 3rd Armored Division was. By late spring 1944, over 6,000 glider pilots had been trained, double the number of 3,000 planned for in 1942. “Operation Sledgehammer” was now changed to “Operation Overlord,” and on June 6, 1944, Allied forces invaded the beaches of Normandy in France, while glider pilots carried commando forces into the country back behind enemy lines. It is now known as D-Day. Check out the movie The Longest Day made in 1962.

Three months later, in September 1944, the largest mass troop movement by glider occurred in “Operation Market Garden,” where thousands of Allied troops were taken in by air to secure nine key bridges along the Rhine River from the Netherlands to create an invasion route of 64 miles into Germany. For the most part it was successful, as it secured 60 of the planned 64 miles. The last bridge was not secured, and at the eight other bridges a foothold across the Rhine River was not obtained. Check out the movie A Bridge Too Far made in 1977.

So that is the legacy of the Aberdeen glider pilots and the thousands of others from all across the United States. This is what the boys trained to accomplish during the three months of the summer of ’42. //

COMMEMORATING A LEGACY

This article is included in this issue because of a picture that has been hanging in our airport lobby for decades (see above).

I’ve read it a couple times and always wanted to know more about it. It is a commemorative tribute created in memory of the glider school here in Aberdeen. And it seems to have been spearheaded by a glider pilot named Alfred Sapa (left, a flight officer with the 9th Air Force, 50th Wing, 434th Troop Carrier Group, 71st Troop Carrier Squadron). Alfred was from North Dakota and ended up in the war effort. He participated in various glider pilot programs across the country, like the one in Aberdeen. He furthered his glider training in England prepping for the D-Day invasion. Alfred piloted an English glider into France during the invasion and landed successfully, but was immediately surrounded by German gunfire. Several of his platoon were killed while others took cover in shallow ground. They were all captured by the Germans and sent to several different POW camps throughout France and Europe. Miraculously, after 11 months in captivity, he and his fellow prisoners were liberated and he returned to the Midwest area, ultimately settling in Aberdeen in the late 1960s. In 1983, Alfred became a member of the National World War II Glider Pilots Association and was involved in establishing the memorial at the airport. The memorial was installed in June 1989. Alfred Sapa passed away six months later in December. The National Glider Association is still going strong and members assisted me with details about the program. // — Troy

McQuillen

 Thousands of visitors peruse the Brown County Fair midway every summer.

FIND YOUR FAIR STORY

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SMALL DETAILS THAT MAKE UP SUMMER’S BIGGEST EVENT

by JENNY ROTH

sk any one person, and they’ll all come back with a different answer as to what they love about the Brown County Fair. For me it is two words: Martina McBride.

In the summer of 1997 Martina headlined the fair, and like every other twelve-yearold girl in the grandstand that evening, I was singing along to every word at the top of my lungs. Before the show started, we bought t-shirts with a blown-up shot of Martina’s profile and her signature in bright purple. I wore mine proudly, and still would if I hadn’t outgrown it. More than my adolescent love of girl power lyrics was the experience of just being at the fair. We got to stay out late, with our dad, who always listened to country music on the radio when we drove around with him checking fields, and now we were getting to see a real, live country music concert together. That is a once-a-year, or maybe a once-in-a-lifetime, experience that you just don’t want to forget.

There’s my fair story, what’s yours? Everyone has at least one, and we’ve collected a pile of good ones for you to enjoy in this article. But woven throughout all these conversations with board members, campers, and 4-H leaders is a common thread: The Brown County Fair is for families and is made possible by volunteers who put more time and

GRANDSTAND SCHEDULE

DACOTAH STAMPEDE RODEO

Monday, August 12

Tuesday, August 13 7:00 PM

TRIPLE THREAT TOUR: SHENANDOAH, RESTLESS HEART, AND BLACKHAWK

Wednesday, August 14 8:00 PM

attention into the event than required by most full-time jobs. Our fair is also free —free admission and free parking, thanks to an impressive number of local sponsors. In recent years, the fair has generated over $1 million in revenue and has made a net profit of about $60,000. However, the economic impact it has on the county goes far beyond these numbers. Aberdeen hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and stores have all reported an increase in sales during fair week. Not to mention, nonprofits can raise funds at the fair, while small businesses can meet customers and earn income through vendor booths and concessions.

Currently, the wait list to attend as a food vendor or exhibitor is a mile long, and with good reason. While some fairs take a percentage of the earnings businesses make, the Brown County Fair does not. Vendors pay the annual fee for their booth up front and then keep all their profits. Variety is another factor we can all appreciate. If you sell hamburgers at the fair, you won’t find yourself surrounded by five other burger joints. Likewise, attendees won’t see a lot of the same things over and over again as they browse the midway and Expo building. To top it off, there’s the grandstand events. In

JORDAN DAVIS AND DYLAN SCOTT

Thursday, August 15 8:00 PM

3 DOORS DOWN, WITH GUEST RED SUN RISING

Friday, August 16 8:00 PM

BIG & RICH, WITH GUEST CASSADEE POPE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Saturday, August 17 8:00 PM

2019 BROWN COUNTY FAIR

Photo by Troy McQuillen

A sunset view of the grandstand and carnival.

Courtesy Photo

DID YOU KNOW?

BROWN COUNTY FAIR

What year did the Brown County Fair start?

1880

Which entertainment act has performed at the fair three times?

DIAMOND RIO (1992, 1994, 2004)

Which governor of South Dakota visited the fair in 1993?

GOVERNOR “WALT” MILLER

his retirement. He started camping at the fair again that year and has ever since, though now it’s at the campground in a 5th wheel with his family. About his decision to join the fair board, he says, “I retired in 1989 and knew I had some extra time and that the fair was a big event for Aberdeen, so I volunteered for one year and then served on the board from 1990 to 1995.” He acted as fair board president in 1993, and says the position was a full-time endeavor. “People don’t realize how much work goes into running a fair this big, it takes a lot of hours. Leading up to it we would put in 40 to 50 hours a week, visiting with service clubs and promoting the fair.” It paid off. That year, 226,000 people walked through the admission gates.

the late ’80s, the fair decided to add big names in entertainment to their evening lineups. This switch increased attendance significantly, with headline concerts bringing in about 8,000 to 10,000 music fans to each show. Holding its own, the rodeo often sells out on both Monday and Tuesday night as well.

By putting together these seemingly small details, the Brown County Fair has become the hit of the summer. But when looking at the big picture, it’s easy to forget all the little things that make it happen, so we hope the following stories will inspire you to take a closer look at this event we’ve all come to expect every August. Go into some buildings or barns you haven’t explored yet; talk to the people you see showing their projects or volunteering. Who knows? You might even experience your next fair story.

TO THE FAIR

DON’T MISS THESE UPAND-COMING FOOD OPTIONS, CONTESTS, AND GAMES!

ONCE A FAIR PERSON, ALWAYS A FAIR PERSON

Most every adult who has a heart for the fair is simply a kid who grew up, but not so much that they forgot the magic of fair week that they felt as a child. George Casanova might be the perfect example of this. In the 1940s, he showed Hereford cattle at the Brown County Fair with his brother and sister. Back then, the fair was a three-day event, and the livestock stalls were tucked into an old wooden cattle barn that sat where the current cattle barn is today. George recalls his first camping experience at the fair. “Above the stalls was a hay mound, and that’s where my brother and I slept for those three days, just above the cattle that we showed,” he says.

Fast forward to 1990, and George joined the Brown County Fair Board shortly after

Beef Jerky and Beef Stick Making Contest

Sunday, 12:00 PM, Home Arts Building

Present your best homemade beef stick or jerky recipe before a panel of judges. Trophies go to the first three places; the winner takes home a new smoker.

George left the fair board in 1995, but his volunteer work was far from over. A lifelong photographer, he spent the next 20 years taking backstage photos of the entertainers at the fair, including the meet-and-greet pictures between the musicians and the fair board members. One memory that stands out in his mind is meeting country music legend Neal McCoy in 1995. It was a hot day when Neal pulled up backstage at the fair, and consequently, the auxiliary a/c on his bus went out. The first person he approached for help was George, who called a friend that came over right away and got the cold air up and running pretty quickly. Neal thanked George for getting his a/c repaired and invited him onto his bus for a beer. Several years later, in 2006, Neal McCoy returned to the Brown County Fair. Before his show, he waved down a board member to ask if George was on the fairgrounds because they needed to repeat that beer together. George was at the fairgrounds, and they did have another beer. “Here’s an artist that travels all over putting on concerts, and many years later he remembered that. A lot of these

Minute to Win It - Fair Edition

Saturday, 1:30 PM, Ken’s SuperFair Foods Tent

Modeled after the Minute to Win It gameshow as seen on TV, this fair edition invites teams of four to complete challenges in a familyfriendly competition. Sign up in advance or right before the event.

Battle of the Times

Tuesday, 9:00 AM, Akkerman Horse Arena

It’s a race against the clock for youth ages 14 to 21 who will compete in some of rodeo’s most popular events – including barrel racing, steer wrestling, barrel goat tying, team roping, and tie-down roping.

 Fairgoers enjoy one of the many carnival rides.

Photo by Troy McQuillen

How many benches have been donated to the fair?

Which year broke the record for the largest attendance at the fair? 2015

entertainers are down to earth and fun to visit with,” George says.

Even though he’s rubbed elbows with well-known musicians, George adds that it’s not the brush with fame that motivates volunteers like himself. “Our fair is successful because there’s free parking and free gate admission, and because it’s a family fair. There are activities for little kids all the way up through their grandparents. That’s what makes the volunteers willing to do what they do, because of all the fun they see people having together at fair week.”

MORE THAN COWS AND COOKIES

If you aren’t stopping to talk with the young farmers in the ag barns at the fair, you’re missing out on one of the best parts of the whole experience. They might look busy as they bustle about grooming their animals or cleaning out stalls, but asking them questions and showing interest in what they do will absolutely make their day. JoAnn Donley, a master gardener and longtime 4-H volunteer, explains, “When I was in 4-H, our club was famous for putting out farmer’s benches (also known as bales of hay) around our livestock area. People would come and sit, and we’d end up talking to these adults who’d ask us questions about our cows. My favorite fair memory is interacting with the people who came and sat on our benches.”

Brown County alone has 325 members in 4-H. The fair is also Achievement Days for the area clubs, which compared to a sports world is basically like tournament time, and the kids bring the best of their best to show. Becca Tullar, 4-H youth program advisor for Brown County, encourages fairgoers to engage with the 4-H presenters. “These kids have stories about how they got their animal, or what they feed it, and they want to share about it because that’s their passion.” JoAnn adds, “They’ve

Home Brew Contest

Friday, 4:45 PM, Home Arts Building

Home brewers get to flex their creative muscles for a chance to brew an exclusive batch with Dakota Territory Brewing that will later be sold at Slackers. If you love craft beer, you don’t want to miss this one.

On average, how many volunteers help at the fair each year?

often been a part of their livestock’s life since its birth, and them bringing that animal to the fair is a culmination of a lot of time and effort. To stop and talk with them about their 4-H project so they can share their knowledge would be a gift you’d be giving to these youth.”

Contrary to what many think, 4-H isn’t just about livestock or only for farm kids. Becca says, “I like to say that 4-H is more than cows and cookies – it’s for every hobby you might have. If you have a hobby, I can find something for you to do with that in 4-H, whether that’s building rockets or showing your pet dog. And it’s a great way to make friends.”

What is the name of the sock monkey mascot for the fair’s scavenger hunt?

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PRIZE MONEY

More camping areas are being added to the fairgrounds all the time, but if the wait list for food vendors and exhibitors is long, it could be argued the wait list for a camping spot is much longer. That’s because the campers who are there are having such a good time that the turnaround on the 800 or so available spots is rare.

Debbie Eisenbeisz and Donna Nash, both from Mansfield, are close friends who camp near each other in the Cottonwood Campground. They talk about camping at the fair with a lot of laughter and good memories. Campers keep their same spots year after year, and Debbie says, “The part we enjoy the most is you don’t see a lot of the people you camp beside all year, and then when the fair starts it’s like the camping family is back together again.” She tells a story about how she and her late husband made friends with a new camping neighbor. “My husband was giving him a bad time and said, ‘You

FARMily Feud

Two shows daily Wednesday- Sunday, Sanford Aberdeen Kid’s Zone Kids will have the chance to test their knowledge of all things farming during this live gameshow event. Stop by for games, trivia questions, and fun!

Chuckwagon

If you’re looking for a twist on the usual, Chuckwagon has the brats for you. Try one of their wild game options made from rattlesnake, alligator, wild boar, or buffalo.

Virtual Reality Pods

Some of the latest gadgets in technology will be at the Expo building in a booth by Mind Riders Technology. Sit in a virtual reality pod, play immersive intelligence games, check out augmented reality figurines, or watch images from a holographic fan.

 A 4-H participant shows livestock at the fair.

 4-H students smile for a group photo.

Photos courtesy of Brown County 4-H

About how many performances take place under the free tents at the fair each year?

Which year did the fair break the record for the most carnival riders?

know, the initiation for new people to the campground is that you have to bring us all steaks.’” The next day, the new guy was firing up the charcoal grill and topping it with steaks for everyone. Debbie laughs, “It was awesome, and he’s camped beside us for years now. It’s wonderful to make these memories with people you know and with strangers you’ve never met before. There’s just a special bond that campers have at the fair.”

Every year, the fair chooses a new theme for the campgrounds and hosts a competition for the best decorated site. The winner receives free camping for the following year and second place gets their spot at half price. Debbie and Donna, who have both won the contest in the past, say they put months of thought into planning their decorations. It’s not for the free camping, so much as the fun of it. Donna says, “Most of the times that I’ve won I’ve always spent more on putting it together than I’d pay for my camping spot to start with, but I do it because it shows that I’m proud to be at the fair and having fun while I’m here.”

“JUST” A VOLUNTEER

After being on the fair board for 18 years, Stu Swenson says he’s now “just” a volunteer. In terms of volunteers, though, he doesn’t stop at doing just the minimum required. “I knew how much work and time the fair board put into the event before I started, so I knew that if I joined, I wanted to give 100 percent,” he says. These days, he’s part of a small group of former board members who want to continue helping

Which year broke the record for the most sponsorship dollars given to the fair?

Which year saw the highest revenue generated by the fair?

Choose a realtor that listens, knows the market, and handles every last detail. Choose Heather Smith.

Call Heather today to start your home search!

with the fair and, “Hopefully still be home by 5:30 every day,” he laughs. For a guy who put in almost around the clock hours during fair week for many years, the time he puts in now seems easy. Yet the fair is never too far from his mind. When we spoke with him in May, he was cleaning out the flower beds at the fairgrounds and planning what to plant in them, already thinking about how they’ll look in August. “There’s so much stuff that can be done prior to the fair that’s really fun,” he says. And having fun while working is what it’s all about. “I used to be pretty quiet when I started this whole thing,” he jokes. “But

now I’ll heckle the campers and tell them if they pay me in cash they can have their spot for half price, or that they can work off their camping fee if they come do this painting project for me. It’s just a lot of fun to meet all the people that are at the fair; the amount of people I’ve met doing this is just unreal.”

Stu’s volunteer time at the fair has spread into other areas of his life. He also helps put up the Living Christmas Tree and with the 4-H Rodeo Association. “Once you start doing volunteer work, and it’s enjoyable to you, you’re going to find other things to do as a volunteer,” he says. //

HEATHER SMITH PROFESSIONAL AND CARING

heather@mickelsonrealtors.com | www.mickelsonrealtors.com

Fireworks light up the midway at night.

Photo by Troy McQuillen