Oklee Market Day Successful

Oklee Market Day was a success even though it was on the hot side. And of course every farmer in the area is out harvesting their grain crop. The crops have been coming in fast and furious. 

The Oklee Market Day Hero Hustle 5K Run/Walk event was well attended and started their run at 8:30 a.m. This year’s event is bringing awareness to Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation. Runners/walkers were to dress up in their favorite superhero costume, a prize was awarded for the most creative costume. Winners were: 

Men’s Division – 19 and under: Owen Chervestad (23:49); 20 to 29 years old: Travis Larson (24:02); 30 to 39 – no one entered; 40 to 49 year old: Casey Wiedenman (37:37); 50-59 age group: Larry (Snook) Olson (44:31); and 60 and over: David Mugaas (40:18).

Women’s Division - 19 and under: Shawna Majeres (25:21); 20 to 29 years old: Kate Holmstrum (25:59); 30 to 39 – Jami Hendrickson (33:25); 40 to 49 year old: Michelle Bakken (33:10); 50-59 age group: Nancy Carriere (41:09); and 60 and over: Mary Jo Mugaas (35:56).

Also there was a key hunt that started that morning. They are a number of keys hidden and you have to look for them. Then at the end of the day, you get to try your key in the lock.

By 9 in the morning all the vendors were sent up and the quilt show was open. This year the quilt show was in the Oklee Community Hall and all the vendors were located in the RLCC High School gym. 

The vendors had many things to check out and there was a little of everything for everyone. Decoration, cooking items, crocheted items, quilted items, food items, jewelry, perfume beads, Tupperware, Pamper Chef, creative craft items, etc. 

The quilt show had many great quilts on display and a Trunk Show was held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Trunk show are interesting things to go to. You not only learn about the quilt, you learn about the person who makes the quilt. There are so many fabrics and designs, it is a wonderful thing to learn about even if you are not a quilter.

There were also many other things going on at Market Day. At 10 am. the Car Show was in full swing with Wild Wes as the DJ playing lots of great music throughout the day. There was a Side Walk Chalk Contest on Main Street and a Peddle Pull Tractor contest on 2nd Street.

Also behind the houses next to the RLCC Football field was the Old Time Plowing event where the guys bring in their old tractors and 2 and 3 bottom plows and get to play old time farmer for an hour or so. Tractors of all ages and types always make this an interesting event. The ground was surprisingly soft considering how hot and dry it has been here. 

At noon there was a Blind Driver contest for adults and Peddle Tractor races for the kids, but the all must have been busy elsewhere because there was a low turnout for this event. 

By 1:30 p.m. lot of folks gathered on Main Stree for some Old Fashioned Street Games. Many games were planned and many participated in all age groups. There were the traditional ones we all think of like the three legged race, the egg toss, etc. But there were a few new ones from last year. Cups of water poured over your shoulder to fill a cup behind the next persons back, and then on down the line of four people. The winner was the team with the most water in the cup. Lots of fun for everyone. At  2:30 p.m. Sand Pile Dig began that all the children love. They get to dig in sand and find the hidden coins. They were lined up for the start and had a blast.

Lots of drawing around town were announced around 2:45 p.m. on Main Street. Oklee Café had drawing for gift certificates and the winners were: Kids received a $5.00 certificate: Guy Bergeson, Aubrey Halverson and Aubrey Swenson. Adults received a $10.00 certificate: Dale Cote, Linda Mickelson and Jeannie O’Neill.

Winners of the Quilt Show were: Large Quilt Karen Matson, McIntosh, Small Grace Dessellier, Kids Paige Olson. 

At 3 p.m. the last event of Oklee Market Day was an ATV Pull. However, due to heat, harvest and exhaustion from all the fun activities, very few showed up but the few that did, had fun anyways. Lawn tractor, a 4 wheeler and a small tractor had plenty of fun. Next year, maybe more will show up for the challenge.

In the evening at 9:00 pm Odd Man Out at TJ’s Tavern entertaining folks in the cool bar with lots of beverages. 

It was a fun day for many and planning for next year’s Market Day will be starting soon.