"There will be even more to sink your teeth into during the 2008 Prairie Pioneer Days celebration in Morris this weekend.
In addition to the numerous events and entertainment options, this year�s Prairie Pioneer Days will feature its first-annual Pasta Eating Contest on Saturday afternoon at East Side Park.
�We�re always trying to find something new that�s fun to watch,� said Jodi Gravning, coordinator of the Prairie Pioneer Days committee. �There�s always somebody who wants to do something crazy.�
The committee of Gravning, Chris Staebler, Corinne Kirk and the Chamber of Commerce�s Karen Arnold have melded the standards with new twists, including the pasta eating contest.
The contest features three age groups -- 5 years to 10 years, 11 years to 17 years and 18 years and older. There is a limit of 10 contestants per age group.
The winners will be chosen on how much spaghetti they can eat in three minutes, and Bello Cucina gift certificates will be awarded to the winners, and Chamber cash awarded to the second-place finishers.
But noodles won�t be the only food item on the menu July 11-13.
There are 27 vendors in all, 11 of which will be food vendors, Gravning said.
The entertainment schedule at the park bandshell will feature several local musical and dance performers. For a community event, that�s appropriate, Gravning said.
�The entertainment, we like to keep it local if we can,� she said, adding with a laugh, �That�s not to say we won�t break out sometime and get Bon Jovi here. But we like to bring back the local favorites.�
In addition to daily events in the park and at other venues around Morris, the popular Medallion Hunt is back. Clues were being issued beginning Monday, July 7 over the KKOK and KMRS radio stations and at Willie�s Super Valu.
The Kid�s Pedal Tractor Pull is back this year, as is the Antique Tractor Pull at the Stevens County Fairgrounds at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The annual walk-run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday has a new name this year. The long-running event this year has been named in honor of teacher and coach Marv Meyer, who was instrumental is starting the walk-run.
�Good fun that�s healthy for a big group is exciting,� Gravning said.
Another first this year is the American Legion Baseball Tournament, which begins with games at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday at Chizek Field.
The weekend winds down with, among other things, the annual Pancake Feed at the Morris Fire Hall, the Classic Car Show at Mike�s Express Lube, and the Grand Parade at 3 p.m.
�It�s a great weekend to come out with the family,� Gravning said. �With a community festival, we try to have something for every age group. It�s good to have the basics, but it�s nice to bring in a few new things.�
Sunday, July 15th of 2007?
-Pancake Feed from 8am-1pm at the Morris Firehouse
All you can eat pancakes and sausages w/free will donation
-Car Show
-Festivities at East Side Park
Some booths (e.g. seasoning, etc..) & kiddie park
"Ethnic-Jewelry Booth" (run by husband and wife team)
-Parade @2:30p-3:30pm
*pictures taken on the parade staging area along E. 7th St. before Columbia Avenue
2007 Highlights
Friday, July 13th of 2007
-Talent Show Finalist Competition
The top three winners from each of the 4 weeks of the Kiwanis Talent Show in June compete for the top three prizes (1st-$500, 2nd-$300, and 3rd-$200) at this evening's event at East Side Park (starting @7pm).
"
Carter Brandt, Meriel Cardwell, Anna Grove, Chris Hansen and Ethan Hoffman have started the Prairie Pioneer Days weekend as winners.
Carter Brandt won the community medallion hunt, which was sponsored by Willie's Super Valu of Morris. He won $200 in Chamber cash.
Meriel Cardwell won $1,000 in the final drawing of the Chamber 400 fundraiser. She received her check from Morris Chamber Executive Director Carolyn Peterson during the Kiwanis Talent Contest on July 13.
Meriel Cardwell won $1,000 in the final drawing of the Chamber 400 fundraiser. She received her check from Morris Chamber Executive Director Carolyn Peterson during the Kiwanis Talent Contest on July 13.
Meriel Cardwell was the big winner in the final drawing for the Chamber 400 fundraiser. She received a check for$1,000. The annual fundraiser supports the Prairie Pioneer Days celebration.
Ten acts performed as part of the Morris Kiwanis Talent Competition. Anna Grove took third place with her ballet routine. She won $100. Chris Hansen took home $300 and second place for his original guitar composition and Ethan Hoffman earned $500 for first place with his rendition of "The Orange Blossom Special."
Keep checking back to www.morrissuntribune.com throughout the weekend for photos from the 23rd annual Prairie Pioneer Days celebration in Morris.
Saturday, July 14th of 2007
-2K Race/Walk, 5K Race/Walk, and 10K Race
Photo of just part of the "biggest" crowd of participants ever for this annual event. Over 100 I believe! It was a "perfect day" for a run/walk with beautiful partly cloudy skies on this cool-warm Saturday morning!
It was a new starting location (RFC) this year, which it has been on Green River park the past years. I (Sal) decided to downgrade from 5K (2-3 years ago) to 2K this year because of bad knees and didn't have time to train-maybe next year. I had a better chance to win this year, which I got 1st place in the 30-39 years old category and 1st place overall (time of 9:09, which could've been faster, but I decided to trail a little to make sure the kids went the right route; best personal time ever was 7:11 back in track in High School).
"
2k Walk/Run - Female
Olivia Kropp, 12:20
Elizabeth Pahl, 12:33
Laura Burks, 14:48
Jessica Burks, 15:55
Michelle Just, 17:11
Mary Zosel, 17:44
Emma Zosel, 17:44
Courtney Greiner, 19:21
Tina Nelson, 19:30
Jolene Greiner, 19:38
Jordyn Sterud, 20:22
Madison Carrington, 20:23
Laine Ciaramitaro, 20:25
Charity Ciaramitaro, 20:26
Brittany Zimmerman, 20:45
Payton Sterud, 21:09
Candace Cegla, 21:09
Jamilya Soto, 21:09
Laura Floberg, 21:09
Jodi Sterud, 21:09
Cindy Torgerson, 21:09
Lexi Carbert, 21:10
Dena Carbert, 21:10
Marie Hansen, 21:10
Kelsey Voges, 21:11
Vicki Dalager, 21:11
Haleigh Velde, 21:12
Anna Johnson, 21:52
Ashley Prieve, 21:52
Meridith Carrington, 25:04
2k Walk/Run - Male
Salvador Monteguido, 9:09
Ryan Bowman, 10:33
Roger Spieker, 10:42
Jacob Just, 11:17
Aaron Nelson, 11:24
Trenton Nelson, 12:17
Zane Pahl, 12:24
Jacob Zosel, 12:51
Sam Burks, 14:48
Andrew Thompson, 15:39
Steven Burks, 15:55
Mitchell Torgerson, 16:08
Mason Nelson, 16:59
Christopher Just, 17:11
Trevor Voges, 18:35
Xavier Pahl, 18:56
Dillon Nelson, 19:11
Alex Soto, 21:05
Jacob Torgerson, 21:05
Steve Sterud, 21:09
Deron Erickson, 21:09
Mark Torgerson, 21:09
Brett Hansen, 21:11
Jack Velde, 21:11
T.J. Voges, 21:11
Taylor Carrington, 25:12
Matt Carrington, 25:16
5k Walk/Run - Female
Kassandra Stueve, 21:01
Camille Flanders, 22:00
Jen Lund, 23:20
Ashleigh Thompson, 25:12
Kristina Larson, 25:16
Tara Schmidt, 25:44
Tess Cotter, 25:47
Christine Schneider, 25:50
Breanna Kruize, 26:54
Ashley Neust, 26:08
Tina Thooft, 27:02
Kelsey Zimmerman, 27:45
Traci Lucas, 27:48
Megan Thooft, 27:51
Lisa Farwell, 28:23
Chandra Kropp, 28:42
Connie Nuest, 28:51
Jo Flanders, 30:14
Becky Worner, 38:28
Carrie Jepma, 38:30
Alexis Adelman, 40:18
Joan Krajca-Radcliffe, 40:51
Jeanette Flamming, 41:52
Jill Lemke, 42:49
Rebecca Wilkening, 46:02
Ruth Foster, 46:33
Tamy Reese, 46:58
5k Walk/Run - Male
Clayton Lang, 20:01
Nate Lund, 21:00
Aaron Lund, 21:00
Dimitri Zimmerman, 21:04
Rich Farwell, 21:09
Carlos Bright, 21:10
Austin Scheiler, 21:33
Travis Flanders, 21:33
James Morales, 21:52
Thomas Pahe, 22:37
Jared Stoller, 24:45
Tyler Schick, 25:04
Roy Reese, 27:03
Caleb Hoerr, 27:35
Steve Just, 27:53
Mike Flanders, 27:55
Steve Kropp, 29:09
Jacob Erickson, 29:23
Victor Gades, 34:50
10k Run - Female
Jenny Weisberg, 48:36
Sandra Garza, 49:46
Kelly Schmidgall, 50:45
Holly Carrington, 51:04
10k Run - Male
Tony Krueger, 40:18
Dugan Flanders, 43:44
Rob Jarvis, 47:05
Justin Lund, 48:01
Ben Ehlers, 48:01
Zach Schaffer, 48:01
Gordon McIntosh, 48:30
Peter Boever, 49:27
Keith Adelman, 50:47
Dan Perkins, 51:05
David Lucas, 53:01
Joel Tallakson, 56:06
Joel Dittbenner, 59:57
Will Stark, 61:39
Chris Lund, 71:56"
-Homemade Jam (Blue Grass Music band) @6:30pm -7:30pm at East Side Park
Tents already closing down at the end of the second day
-Fireworks after 10pm (dawn)
I just watched it from my backyard of my house since I was already setting for the night. It was very loud, which I thought someone was pounding from upstairs when I was in my basement in the beginning of the fireworks.
Sunday, July 15th of 2007?
-Pancake Feed from 8am-1pm at the Morris Firehouse
All you can eat pancakes and sausages w/free will donation
-Car Show
-Festivities (church service this morning) at East Side Park
-Parade @2:30p-3:30pm
*pictures taken from the corner of California Ave. and E. Seventh St.
I watched it by the Mangan's house, so I can follow the Twins vs. Oakland A's baseball game (won 4-3 in bottom of 9th to extend 4 game winning streak/series sweep after the All-Star Game last week)
Brett gets in front of my photo taking scenery!
-Tasting Some Food!
Yesterday, I tried some delicious fijita wraps that was cooked by the "La Tienda" owner (Chapa). Today, I decided to try some food from the...
Lutheran Eatery
"
Prairie Pioneer Days is Morris's summer town event, held on the second weekend of July. There is a fair in the Eastside Park with craft and food vendors, kids games, petting zoo, pony rides and entertainment events. You can get a hamburger, slice of pizza or hot mini donuts. Don't forget to try a milk shake from the dairy council. Saturday afternoon you can take a horse drawn wagon ride with a naturalist on the prairie out at the Wetland Management office. The ride and the scenery are great, but be prepared for the hot sun and sometimes mosquitos. Sunday morning there is a pancake feed at the firehouse. All you can eat for a free will donation, with excellent pancakes and service. The kids can check out the fire trucks while mom and dad have another cup of coffee. One of the highlights of the weekend for our family. Sunday afternoon is the city parade where you can see the fire trucks again along with farm equipment, old cars, bands, horses and displays by a variety of local businesses and groups. And they all throw lots of candy for the kids. The parade lines up on Columbia St, then progresses west on 7th St to California Ave, then south on California to 2nd St. "
Thank you for visiting GoodnewsMorris! Please feel free to e-mail me (Sal) at [email protected] on any comments, suggestions (e.g. any new websites),complaints, or anytype of feedback to improve this website.
